68 ALCEDINIDiE, UPUPIDiE. 
Family ALCEDiNiDiE. 
51. Alcedo ispida, Linn. The Kingfisher. 
Moorish. Kandil el behar (Light of the sea). Spanish. 
Martin pescador. 
"This bird^ only found from August to March, is. not nu- 
merous near Tangier, but is more abundant near Rabat/^ — 
Favier. 
The Kingfisher is common in winter and spring near Gib- 
raltar, and is frequently seen among the rocks on the coast, 
and often at the " inundation " at the North Front. I have 
no record of its occurrence during the breeding-season — that 
is, not later than the end of April. The majority arrive in 
October, leaving in March. 
Family Upupid^. 
52 . Upupa epops, Linn. The Hoopoe. 
Moorish. Hudhud. Spanish. Abubilla, Gallo de Marzo, 
Cajonera, Cagajonera, S abubilla. 
" Seen in great quantities near Tangier on passage, crossing 
to Europe during February, March, and April, returning, to 
retire altogether for the winter, in August, September, and 
October. In some years the vernal migration is earlier, and 
they are seen at the end of January. They rarely remain to 
nest near Tangier. The females have a nearly white throat. 
The superstitious Jews and Mahometans both believe that the 
heart and feathers of the Hoopoe are charms against the 
machinations of evil spirits.^' — Favier. 
Hoopoes seldom remain to nest in the vicinity of Gibraltar; 
but a few breed about Casa Vieja, and thence northwards, 
where there are trees; towards Moron and Seville their " hood, 
hood " may be frequently heard in spring and summer. They 
begin to lay about the 1st of May, in holes of trees. 
My dates of their earliest arrival at Gibraltar are : — the 
17th of February, 1870; 18th of February, 1871; 16th of 
February, 1872; but on the 11th of January in that year I 
saw a single Hoopoe in the Goto del Rey, but was unable to 
secure it. Lieutenant Reid also informed me of one appear- 
