c -eay > 
feet elevation. I saw a number of them some time ago, busy in 
their chase for insects, which they catch not unhke the tly-catchers, 
on the wing or whilst, gaily flying from tree to tree and hunting 
among the shady foliage and thick branches feeding chiefly on Coleop- 
tera. Trogons are usually seen in parties of six and seven, they seem 
to prefer certain localities, for as often as I visit these places, the 
woods near Teesta river, above the bridge, say a mile or so below 
Munjitar Bridge; some of the warmer valleys in Sikkim ; or Reang 
forest, to the south and east of us, one has not long to search 
before finding Trogons. It is a sight not easily forgotten, to fall in 
with a group of these beautiful birds, with their rosy peach coloured 
breasts, males with crimson heads and a rich display of colour, on 
your return to any of these places, you seem to see them as_ before, 
perhaps their numbers are a bit increased or deminished, as the case 
may be. These birds are seen to advantage in spring. They build 
in hollows, in trees or decayed tree stumps. Their eggs, two in 
number are spherical in shape, yellowish brown tinged, an ivory 
colour, 
Famity MEROPIDA& ( Bee-eaters ) 
These birds are well known in India, more so in the plains, so 
that, a separate note seems hardly necessary. The bill is long, slen- 
der, curved a little throughout and sharp pointed ; wings long and 
pointed ; tail typically lengthened in most of the species; tarsus 
short ; feet short, claws strong and curved. The prevailing colour 
of this group is leaf green with variations of chesnut, blue or 
yellow. 
(117) Merops Viripis, Common Indian Bee-eater. This small 
ereen bird is seen in the plains, in spring and during the rains, more 
plentiful ; not infrequently sitting on telegraph wires from where it 
sallies forth after bees, and other insects which they capture on the 
wing and usually return to the same perch, as do flycatchers. This 
particular habit or qualification has gained for it the popular name 
of fly-catcher. You must have marked its typically constructed, or 
form of tail, which has two long feathers, the Uropygials 2 of which 
taper to long and thin, ribbon like feathers, somewhat rigid, which 
makes these birds distinguished without much difficulty, more so hy 
its long slender bill. The true fly-catcher, which we shall take up 
later on, is quite a different bird belonging to the Muscicapidwe 
family of Dentirostral tribe. If it had not been for the wide gape of 
meropide, and other qualities, construction and habits, it might have 
found a place among Tenuirostres. Indian Bee-eater is found in most 
parts of India, but ascends to no great elevation in the district. It 
is about 7% inches in length from tip of the tail ordinary, Uvropygials 
