Ornithology of the Egyptian Soudan. 349 



it is much less frequently seen. Its return migration in the 

 spring is less noticeable. 



142. CORACIAS ABYSSINICUS Bodd. 



a. <J. Gedaref, May 1901. 



b. S ■ Fachi Shoya, White Nile, Nov. 14, 1902. 



The Abyssiuian Long-tailed Roller seems very generally 

 distributed throughout the whole country. From south of 

 about the 17th degree of N. lat. I think that I have seen it 

 everywhere that I have been, from east to west, and it ranges 

 into Uganda. 



Though resident, it seems locally migratory. From the 

 vicinity of Khartoum, where it is common during the rest 

 of the year, it seems to disappear entirely in August and 

 September (just at the period when Coracias garrulus becomes 

 plentiful in its haunts), returning suddenly about the middle 

 of October. 



143. Melittophagus pusillus (P. L. S. Mull.). 



a. <J ■ Khartoum, Oct. 28, 1902. 



b. ? . „ Nov. 19, 1902. 



c. ? . „ Feb. 1903. 



This little Bee-eater is abundant at Khartoum, and its 

 tameness and brilliant plumage soon attract the attention of 

 visitors. I have found it common along the Blue Nile up 

 to Wad Medani, and have seen it at Gedaref ; on the White 

 Nile I do not remember its occurrence beyond Fashoda, 

 while I have not met with it further north than Shendi. 



144. Melittophagus frenatus (Hartl.). 

 a. £ . River Rahad, April 11, 1903. 



"• o • >} » }> 



These gorgeously coloured Bee-eaters are abundant on the 

 Blue Nile above Wad Medani and all along the Rahad and 

 Dinder Rivers. These last two rivers dry up into a chain 

 of pools, often widely separated, during the hot months, and 

 in the vicinity of the pools the Bee-eaters collect and breed in 

 great numbers. In April 1903 many of the pools contained 

 large fishes (probably Hydrocyon), which, being ravenous 

 for want of food, were rising at these Bee-eaters every time 



SER. VIII. VOL. V. 2 b 



