Trip to Kashmir. 83 



90. CoRACiAs GARRULA Linn. 



The Roller is one of the later migrants, and we saw 

 none in the Valley of Kashmir in April, and only a single 

 specimen at Gund in May. This we shot on the 17th. On 

 our return there on the 18th June we found the bird 

 sparingly distributed, but becoming more common as we 

 descended the Sind River to Gandarbal. We took two nests 

 in holes of trees on the 18th June, each containing four eggs ; 

 one clutch was quite fresh, and the other just being hatched. 

 On the 26th June we found the bird breeding in numbers in 

 holes in the bank of the Jhelum near Baramula, and eight 

 nests found on that date contained incubated eggs or young. 



91. Merops apiaster Linn. 



This bird was common at Srinugger in the end of April, 

 but seemed to be restricted to the valley, as we did not see 

 it above Gandarbal, on the Sind. The only nests we saw 

 were singly along the hill-side at Gandarbal. 



92. Ceryle varia Strickl, 



Common along the Jhelum between Baramula and 

 Srinugger, not extending up the Sind River more than a 

 mile or so above Gandarbal. It was building its nest at the 

 end of April. 



93. Alcedo ispida Linn. 



Very common about Srinugger and along the same parts 

 of the river on which we found Ceryle varia. We obtained 

 many nests about Gandarbal in May and June, 



94. Upupa epops Linn. 



We found the Hoopoe very common in the Valley of 

 Kashmir when we arrived in April. It was then in pairs 

 and continued common everywhere we went, while we even 

 saw a few at about 10,000 feet on the hills above Sonamurg. 

 Its nests were in holes in trees at all heights, and we found 

 one nest among a heap of stones on the ground. The birds 

 breed twice, as we came across small young at Gangadgir 

 (7000 feet) as early as May 4th, and incomplete clutches of 

 fresh eggs were taken as late as June i8th, while none of 



SER. VU. VOL. IV. D 



