XLI.-Notes on the Birds of the Province of Constantine, Algeria.
1882; Wiley; Volume: 24; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1111/j.1474-919x.1882.tb07426.x
ISSN1474-919X
Autores Tópico(s)Entomological Studies and Ecology
ResumoThe same remarks apply to the various subspecific forms of Sitta europaa.But whatever theory we may adopt to account for the differences in the colour of nearly allied species from different localities, the fact that interbreeding takes place remains; and it is this fact which I wish to press upon the attention of ornithologists.Province of Constantine.551 We arrived at Philippeville, via Marseilles, on ilie 28tli of April, and thence took train to Constantine.Our route from Philippeville was partly through charming country thick with semitropical verdure, and partly through a desolate hilly region.Near Constantine we made our first acquaintance with the Griffon Vulture, and watched from the train a pair of these birds that came within gunshot.A little further on, the White Storks were wandering about the pastures, or perched, sentinel-like, by the side of little pools, looking out for frogs.High in air were also one or two Egyptian Vultures wheeling leisurely round in circles, and a Falcon, probably a Barbary, left its eyrie, far above us in the rocks, as the train dashed past.Constantine, from its peculiar commanding situation on the summit of a large rock, has from earliest times been chosen as a fortress and a fitting capital for a country subject to incessant warfare and revolutions.It stands on the summit of rocky precipices, whose sides in places rise just uj)on a thousand feet from the bed of the river Roumel below.This deep ravine is spanned by the bridge of El Kantara.Seen from a distance Constantine looks at its best ; for a closer inspection will not bear out the expectations of the traveller.We found the valley below Constantine to the west a very interesting place, teeming with birds, although rather poor in species.Among the most interesting of these were the White-bellied Swift, which breeds in the rocks round the town, and a large Raptorial bii'ji which Mr. Elwes took to be the Booted Eagle.From Constantine we went by rail to El Guerrah, and thence by diligence to Batna.
Referência(s)