Ornithology of Gilgit. 429 



eastern form, which is the C. europaus, var. aralensis, of 

 SevertzoflF, under the name of C. unwini. 



36. Mbrops persicus, Pallas. 



This Bee-eater was only observed in Gilgit from the 20th 

 to the 28th November, 1879, when several flocks passed over 

 the valley on migration southwards. I secured three imma- 

 ture specimens, two males and one female, with the uropy- 

 gials only from 0"2 to 0'4 longer than the next pair of rec- 

 trices. These birds measured — length 10"3 to 10'5 inches, 

 wing 5-6 to 5-65, tail 4 to 4*1, tarsus 0-47 to 0-5, bill from 

 gape 2'05 to 2" 15. The female has the bill more slender 

 than the males ; the chestnut-colour of the throat is paler ; 

 and the rump and upper tail-coverts are not so blue. 



38. CoRACiAS GARRULUS, Linn. 



The Common Roller is plentiful in the hottest valleys of 

 the Gilgit district throughout the summer, and there makes 

 day hideous with its harsh grating cry : it does not appear 

 to ascend above 6000 feet. In 1880 it made its first appear- 

 ance in Gilgit on the 30th April. Most of these birds leave 

 us in October; but I have observed stragglers as late as the 

 11th November. Five specimens, measured in the flesh, gave 

 the following results — length 131 to 13"4 inches, wing 7"7 

 to 8"25, tail 5*4 to 5*6, tarsus 0'9, bill from gape ]"85; a 

 male weighed 4| oz. Gilgit specimens agree comjDletely with 

 examples from Asia Minor. 



39. Picus HiMALAYENSis, Jard. & Selby. 



This Woodpecker is strictly confined to the pine-forests, 

 and does not straggle down to the lower valleys. Half a dozen 

 adult specimens have the wings 5*3 to 5"4 inches, tails 3"35 to 

 3'8, bill from gape 1"3 to 1*45. The specimens described by 

 Captain Marshall as having the underparts sullied, the lower 

 tail -coverts very pale, and the bill short, are merely the im- 

 mature of this species ; and I cannot agree with him that they 

 constitute " a very remarkable race.'' 



Adult male P. himalayensis differs from the adult male P. 

 major in having the whole crown crimson, while the latter 

 has only the occiput thus coloured, and in several other 



