— 44 — 



207. Smyrna Kingfisher. Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus) . 



Not mentioned by Siielley. 



Captain Flower examined a stuffed specimen in the winter 

 of 1899-1900 at Zagazig, said to have been shot at Zagazig a 

 few years previously by a Mr. C. Vetter, an old resident of 

 Zagazig. 



Sir Alexander Baird tells me that many years ago he and 

 a friend of his saw one between Alexandria and Cairo from the 

 train. His friend went back later and shot it. 



" When Macgregor speaks of a large Indian Kingfisher 

 arrayed in red and blue on the Zrier Elver near Mansura, 

 in " The Rob Roy on the Jordan," he probably alludes to 

 Halcyon smyrnensis^ See Gurney, " Rambles of a Naturalist," 

 page 123. 



Length about 10 inches. Blue above, red below ; white 

 on the wings, throat, and breast. 



208. Roller. Coracias garruhis garrulus Linnaeus. 



Coracias garrula. Shelley, p. 168. 



Very abundant as a bird of passage in autumn, but far less 

 common during the return migration in spring. 



Length 14 inches. Bro\\^l above ; wings blue ; under parts 

 and head green. Females duller in coloration. 



209. European Bee-eater. Merops apiaster Linnasus. Plate 28, 

 fig. 16. 



Merops apiaster. Shelley, p. 169. 



Passes through Egypt in great numbers during both 

 migrations. 



Length about 11 1 inches. Brownish yellow above ; chin 

 yellow, bordered below with a black band ; belly bluish green ; 

 central tail feathers slightly elongated. 



210. Eastern Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. Merops persicus persicus 



Pallas. Plate 28, fig. 17. 



Merops cegijptms. Shelley, p. 170. 



Arrives in Lower Egypt in spring, where it breeds ; never 

 seen during the winter. 



Size of former. Grass green ; throat dull red ; a black 

 stripe through eye ; blue and white on cheeks ; central tail 

 feathers slightly elongated. 



