COTYLE OBSOLETA. 
(PALE CRAG-MARTIN.) 
Cotyle rupestris, Riipp. Syst. Uebers. p. 22 (1845, nec Scop.). 
Cotyle obsoleta, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 50 (1850). 
Cotile cahirica, A. K. Brehm, Journ. fiir Orn. 1853, p. 452. 
Cotyle palustris, Tristram, Ibis, 1867, p. 363 (nec Steph.). 
Cotyle paludibula, Tristram, Ibis, 1869, p. 437 (nec Riipp.). 
“Cotyle thebaica, Pr. Wirt.,” Heuglin, Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 163 (1869). 
Ptyonoprogne pallida, Hume, Stray Feathers, i. p. 1 (1872). 
Cotyle rupestris auctt. orn. Afr. (partim). 
Figura nulla. 
Ad. C. rupestri persimilis sed minor, multo pallidior, coloribus obsoletis: corpore subtts albido, mento et guld 
immaculatis : hypochondriis et crisso rufescente fusco lavatis: cauda vix furcata. 
Juv. adulto similis sed sordidior, corpore subtis rufescente adumbrato. 
Adult Male (Egypt, 9th March, 1868). Resembles Cotyle rupestris, but is much smaller, greyer, and paler ; 
upper parts very pale greyish sandy brown, darkest on the head and palest on the rump; lores blackish 
brown; underparts creamy white, on the chin and upper throat almost pure white; flanks, lower 
abdomen, and under tail-coverts washed with dull rufous brown; tail and wings as in Cotyle rupestris, 
but much paler, the former almost square, and scarcely emarginate; bill black, inside of mouth dirty 
yellow; tarsus dark brown, soles whitish; iris dark brown. Total length 5:2 to 5:5 inches, culmen 0°35, 
gape 0°52, wing 4:5, tail 2:1, tarsus 0°45. 
Young (Egypt, 11th April). Resembles the adult, but is somewhat duller in colour, and has the breast and 
abdomen slightly clouded with dull reddish buff. 
Obs. I can detect no difference in plumage or size by which the female may be distinguished from the male. 
In measurements the series of specimens I have examined vary as follows—culmen 0°3 to 0°38 inch, 
wing 4°3 to 4°65, tail 1:9 to 2:2, tarsus 0:4 to 0°48—from which it will be seen that it is on the average 
much less in size than Cotyle rupestris. 
Tus small and pale form of Cotyle rupestris inhabits Palestine, North-east Africa, Sindh, and 
Baluchistan, and where found appears to be a resident, and not a migrant. I possess a specimen 
from Palestine which agrees closely with others from Egypt. Canon Tristram, referring to this 
species, says (/. c.):—“Cotyle palustris we found throughout the year in the Jordan valley, con- 
sorting to the north of the Dead Sea with Cotyle rupestris, while round its shores it holds undis- 
puted possession. The two birds breed in the same locality, in the clefts of Mount Quarantania, 
near Jericho. ‘They have the same note and flight; but while the other bird confines itself to the 
