NESTING IN KASHMIR. 689 



out these birds to us when asked what species the eggs 

 belonged to. 



860. Alauda arvensis, — The Skylark. — Common. Found foux' nests 

 in June, each containing 3 eggs. 



100.^. lynx torquilla. — Common Wryneck. — The nest of this bird 

 has been found before in Kashmir, and we were fortunate enough to 

 find one nest in a hole in an old tree, about 10 ft. from the ground, at 

 Sonamerg. It contained 8 fresh eggs, and the female was shot off the 

 nest. 



1024. Comcias garrula. — European Roller. — This bird was quite 

 one of the commonest met with. We were, however, very unlucky in 

 nearly always finding young birds in the nest holes. The only eggs 

 procured were from a native collector. 



1029. Meroijs apiaster. — European Bee-eater. — Like the previous 

 species, this was the common bee-eater of Kashmir. We never found 

 eggs, though on several occasions we dug out the old bird and found 

 young in the nest-hole. They appear to be more solitary in their 

 nesting habits than M. veridis, as on no occasion did we find more than 

 one nest occupied, though the river bank was often riddled with nest- 

 holes. 



1035. Alcedo ispida, — Common King-fisher. — Very common. 

 Eggs in May, June and July. 



1066. Upupa epops. — European Hoopoo. — Common. Eggs in May 

 and June. 



1310. Tictur risorius. — Indian Ring-dove. — Veiy common in the 

 valleys. Eggs in May and June. 



1305, Tutur ferrago. — Indian Turtle-dove. — Common. Eggs in 

 May and June. 



1393. Porzana pw527?a.— Eastern Baillon's Crake. — This is a bird 

 seldom seen, but from the numbers of nests we found on the Sumbul 

 marsh it must be far from uncommon. The nests were as described 

 by Blanford, Vol. IV, page 166. The normal number of eggs is 7. 

 In several nests we found eggs broken by crows or rats, most of 

 the eggs having but a small round hole in them, as though made 

 by a bird's beak. 



1398. Amaurornis fuscus, — Ruddy Crake. — Another bird hard to 

 find and whose nest eluded all our searching. The villagers used to 



