Expedition to the Eastern Canary Islands. 251 



Hirundo rustica rustica. Swallow. 



Hirundo rustica rustica Linn. ; Bannerman, Part I. 

 pp. 49, 86. 



Swallows were seen on rare occasions only ; they were first 

 met with at La Pena on the Avest coast of Fuerteveiitura, 

 where several were hawking over the fields of corn and maize. 

 They do not breed in the islands but are seen annually on 

 migration. At this time of year (May and June) they are 

 fairly common in Gran Canaria. 



A specimen was obtained in Fuerteventui'a. 



Bill black; iris dark hazel; feet dark brown; the body 

 was very fat ; the testes small. 



Delichoii nrbica urbica. House Martin. 



Delichon urbica urbica (Linn.) ; Bannerman, Part L pp. 55, 

 77, 86. 



House Martins were not seen in Fuerteventura, but were 

 almost the first species noted upon our landing in Lanzarote. 

 A pair was flying over the small port of Tinosa and one was 

 obtained. It proved to belong to the European species and 

 not, as I thought possible, to the smaller form D. u. meri- 

 dionalis of north-west Africa. In the north of this island 

 they were not seen, but a single bird was noticed flying 

 high over the clifi's of Montana Clara. 



In Allegranza a small colony of Martins was discovered 

 by my taxidermist ; they are said to breed in the island, and 

 certainly the birds were seen entering holes in the face of 

 the clifi'; unfortunately they were all inaccessible. Bishop 

 estimated their numbers at about twenty birds. It is 

 worthy of note that on a subsequent visit to this part of 

 the island all signs of the House Martins had disappeared. 

 Dr. Hartert (Vog. pal. Faun. i. p. 808) remarks that he 

 considers the statement that the House Martin has bred 

 in the Canary Islands rests on an error, and until more 

 definite evidence is forthcoming I am inclined to agree 

 with him. It certainly does not breed on Tenerife or 

 Gran Canaria. 



Examples were obtained from Lanzarote and Allegranza. 



Bill black ; iris dark hazel ; legs feathered, claws dusky. 



