Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/486

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452
THE ZOOLOGIST.

Muscicapa grisola.—One pair of Spotted Flycatchers was noticed in some small gardens on the North Front at Gibraltar in May. A few specimens were also seen at Arosa Bay in the same month.

Hirundo rustica.—The Swallow was common everywhere, and, though naturally only observed at Arosa Bay in the spring, it was still present at Gibraltar in the first week of November. At Algeciras this bird was nesting, and had full clutches of eggs on April 8th.

Chelidon urbica.—The Martin was as common as the Swallow, and occurred for the most part with it; in Sardinia, as far as my scanty observation permitted, it seemed much the commoner of the two species.

Cotile rupestris.—The Crag-Swallow was noted in three localities only. First, it was seen on a hill on the Spanish mainland facing the North Front in the month of November, at an elevation of about 500 ft. At Ronda, a town about eighty miles inland from Gibraltar, having an elevation of 2500 ft., and divided into two parts by a deep narrow gorge called the Tajo. This gorge is about 1000 ft. in depth, and there, in company with the Common Swallow, this species was observed in hundreds. The birds seemed to be very tame, and, besides frequenting the gorge, flew in and out among the houses just as the Common Swallows do. At Aranei Bay, in Sardinia, a few pairs were observed at the end of April hawking about after their prey down at the sea-level, as well as up the sides of the hills, and in the valleys. This bird was plentiful at Gibraltar in November and December, 1899.

Carduelis elegans.—Many Goldfinches were noted at Arosa Bay in March, and all were then paired. In May they had apparently considerably diminished in numbers, probably, however, many having gone elsewhere to breed. At Algeciras, in November, a few specimens were observed, and a flock of five hung about the rock at Gibraltar for a few days in March.

Serinus hortulanus.—The Serin was fairly common at Arosa Bay in May, where it was then nesting.

Ligurinus chloris.—Greenfinches were very common at Arosa Bay.

Passer domesticus.—Though fairly common in the towns and villages about Arosa Bay and at Algeciras, Sparrows were scarce