40 Mr. P. A. ShepparJ on Birds collected and 



I found a nest-hole in the river-bank in soft sand, about 

 2 feet 6 inches in depth, 2^ inches diameter, and the chamber 

 at the end about 7 inches in diameter and oval in shape. 

 It contained five eggs, laid on the bare sand, of a pale pink, 

 but pure white and shiny after blowing (size 1 X }f inch; all 

 of the same size). 



These eggs are considerably larger than those of H. sioain- 

 soni and of a much duller white; the nest-hole is larger, 



I found another nest of same species in the railway 

 embankment similar to above, containing four eggs, and 

 caught the female. 



Both nests were found on October 11th. 



These birds are very wary and difficult to approach, but 

 not so shy as sivainsoiii. I had considerable difficulty in 

 getting the female of the first clutch found in the river-bank, 

 and was quite unable to get a shot at either of the males. 

 Their call-note is quite different to that of sioai7iso7ii, is much 

 louder and emitted at intervals only. These birds are by no 

 means always found near water, and setm to prefer wooded 

 country; I have watched them often dart after dragon-flies 

 and return again to the same tree. They are very fond of 

 resting on telegraph-wires along the railway. 



120. Halcyon chelicuti, Stanley. Striped Kingfisher. 

 Plentiful near the coast, especially among the mangrove- 

 swamps. 



121. Halcyon swainsoni (Smith). Grey-headed King- 

 fisher. 



Vei-y uncommon. I had only seen and shot one specimen 

 previous to this season, but have lately taken two clutches of 

 eggs, and in both cases seen the parents, shooting the male of 

 one pair, and taking the female of the other off the nest, which 

 contained three pure white eggs. 



Both nests were found on Nov. 1st. 



The birds are extremely shy and it was only by waiting 

 hidden for some time that I could get a shot at the male, which 

 flew on to the top of a very tall tree near by. They also keej» 

 up a constant call while near the nest and fly from tree-top 



