214 Mr. F. N. Chasen on the [Ibis, 



Micropus apus. Swift. 



Seven at Oriuaiili, 22 May. They stayed about two hours. 

 Not seen again till August. ' On 21 August some flocks 

 appeared in eouipan}^ with Martins and were evidently on 

 passage. 



Caprimulgus europseus. Niglitjar. 



28 May. On Struma plain in September. At Salonica 

 in October. Two eggs found by a friend about last week 

 in June on the hills near Gramatna. 



Merops apiaster. Bee-eater. 



Common in summer. Present 4 May in pairs, and 19 Sep- 

 tember. One of the commonest sounds on the Struma ])lain 

 in Slimmer is the strange cry of the Bee-eater. I was never 

 fortunate enough to find a nest myself, but had eggs brought 

 to me from a native cemetery. Major Sladen tells nie that 

 he has found them breeding near Janis and Dudular in hobs 

 in the ravines. 



TJpupa epops. Hoopoe. 



Common in summei'. In the spring of 1017 I was not in 

 a favourable position to observe, and the first Hoopoe was 

 not seen till 10 April. In 1918 six were seen, 3 April. Still 

 numerous, 19 September, Tlie Hoopoes were very shy birds, 

 but their preference for particular localities ofi'ered oppor- 

 tunities for observation. One or two could usually be found 

 in the dense foliage of a line of willows fringing a small 

 stream near the Struma. It was quits useless to try to stalk 

 these birds at midday. Tliey were most vivacious, and would 

 fly from tree to tree forbidding a close approach. They' 

 were seen under the most favourable conditions on the hills, 

 but even there their solitary, shy habits were well marked. 

 I usually contented myself with listening to their peculiar 

 voice. The call of the Hoopoe is a clear " coo-coo/" or 

 " coo-roo-foo." In tone it is between the monotonous 

 cooing of the Doves and the clear penetrating voice of the 

 CuL'koo, and with both these it might be very well confused. 



Unlike the note of the Dove, in which tlie last syllable is 



