( 45 ) 



only guarding the nest, as a pair of Pegu house-sparrows had laid 

 covetous eyes on the hole, and were being continually hunted away 

 by the bird on guard. In April I noticed that the young birds had 

 been hatched, and on the ist of May I saw one outside the nest. So 

 this pair took six months to make their nest and rear their family. 

 In August a pair, I cannot say whether the same, began excavating a 

 hole in another tree close by. It would be interesting to know 

 whether this bird always takes such a time over nesting operations. 



Burmese name — Padein-bo. 



(No. 10 19. X. haematocephala.) 



XXI 



THE ROLLER, AND BEE-EATERS. 



THE BURMESE ROLLER. 



The so-called " blue jay " is one of our most noticeable Burmese 

 birds, and, together with the king-crow and kite, are a characteristic 

 feature to nearly every jungle scene. 



When first seen it strikes one as beipgan unhappy bundle of brown 

 feathers, taking no interest in life in general. In reality it is very much 

 aw^ke. as it suddenly surprises one by gliding off its perch, and so 

 discloses its beautiful blue wings and tail. It is very partial to tele- 

 graph wires, and is always to be seen along the railway lines ; in 

 fact it is common everywhere except in thick jungle. It is an extreme- 

 ly noisy bird during the breeding season, and has a harsh grating 

 voice continually scolding and complaining, making a great fuss 

 when any bird goes anywhere near its nest. It breeds in holes of 

 trees or buildings making an untidy nest of rubbish, and lays three or 

 four white eggs. 



They are olive-brown when seen at rest, having the head a greenish 

 blue, upper parts a dull green, lower back blue, tail a beautiful dark 

 blue, tipped with light blue, wings the same shades of blue, under 

 parts brownish. Length about thirteen inches. It has nothing in 

 common with the crow-tribe, and is therefore in no way related to 

 the jays. Hence its name, is very misleading. It gets the name of 

 "Roller'' from its rolling manner of flight. 



Burmese name — Hnet-kha. 

 (No. 1023, Coracias affinis.) 



THE BEE EATERS. 



A small family of beautiful green birds, having distinctive badges 

 of chestnut and blue. They are often erroneously called "fly- 

 catchers," from the manner in which they catch their prey — insects in 

 all forms, which are captured on the wing. Some of them are 



