SJ VALLOWS. 
5 2 3 
Red-Rumped This pretty swallow (II. rufula) spends the summer in the 
swanow. eastern portion of the Mediterranean, whence it extends eastwards 
to the Himalaya and Turkestan. Many red-ruinped swallows breed in Greece, 
inhabiting the mountain-ranges of that country. In Palestine this species nests in 
caves, although the birds do not consort in colonies; the arches of the monastery 
on Mount Carmel being a favourite breeding-place. The nest is a beautiful 
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW AND CRAG MARTIN 11 at. size). 
structure built of the same materials as that of the house-martin; the eggs being 
four in number, and pure white in colour. This swallow is common in warm 
sheltered valleys in the highest parts of the vine-regions of Greece and Asia 
Minor, where it may often be seen hawking for insects in company with the 
swallow and house-martin. It cannot, however, be mistaken for either of these 
species, as it possesses the long forked tail of the swallows in addition to the white 
rump of the house-martin; and it may be distinguished by its note, which is 
lower than that of the swallow. The nests are built of mud, and are similar to 
