466 Mr. Douglas Carruthers on the 



breeds in the holes of the walnut trees. In winter the vast 

 majority go south, but I observed a few in Samarkand on 

 the 29th of January, when snow was on the ground. 



110. Merops apiaster. 



Merops apiaster Sharpe, Cat. B. xvii. p. 63. 

 $ imm. Samarkand. 15 Sept., 1907. No. 45. 



The Bee-eater arrives during the first week in May : the 

 majority pass the Zarafschan Valley and go further north 

 to breed, but some remain. 



111. C()RACIAS GARRULUS. 



Coracias garrulus Sharpe, Cat. 13. xvii. p. 15. 

 ? . Samarkand. 1 May, 1908. No. 395. 

 Rollers begin to arrive on the 1st of May, and are very 

 common all the summer. They breed in the loess cliffs. 



112. Alcedo ispida. 



Alcedo ispida Sharpe, Cat. B. xvii. p. 141 . 



<J. Samarkand. 29 Oct., 1907. No. 141. 

 ? . „ 29 Oct., 1907. No. 133. 



This Kingfisher is common on the Zarafschan River itself 

 at about 2000 ft., and also on the small mountain streams 

 up to 4500 ft. 



113. Cypselus melba. 



Micropus melba Hartert, Cat. B. xvi. p. 439. 

 ? . Samarkand. 3 May, 1908. No. 400. 



This Swift is a summer visitor, arriving in Samarkand in 

 great numbers on the 2nd of April. Here they haunt the 

 ruined mosques and madresahs, where they breed. They 

 also breed at 4000 ft. in the neighbouring hills, early in May. 

 By the 6th of November they have all gone south again. 



114. AsiO ACCIPITRINUS. 



Asio accipitrinus Sharpe, Cat. B. ii. p. 234. 

 <$ . Samarkand. 22 Dec, 1907. No. 249. 

 S . Bokhara. 4 Dec, 1907. No. 208. 

 This Owl is a common bird in the tamarisk-covered sand- 

 duncs of Bokhara during the winter. 



