the Lower Yangtse Basin. 483 



Fam. MEROPiDiE. 



167. Merops bicolor, Bodd. 



(118.) Pere Heude has specimens obtained on the sand- 

 hills at the mouth of the Poyang Lake below Kiukiang, 

 where he tells me they were breeding ; he assures me he has 

 also met with them on the Lushan range. 



Fam. CoRACiiD^. 



168. EURYSTOMUS ORIENTALIS (L.). 



(119.) Eurystomus orientalis, Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1871, 

 p. 347. 



Comes to breed in the Lushan Hills in May. The autumn 

 migration takes place in October, when young birds may 

 sometimes be found in the Shanghai market. 



Fam. Alcedinid^. 



169. Alcedo bengalensis, Briss. 

 (120.) Very abundant. 



170. Ceryle rudis (L.). 



(124.) Comes to breed in the Yangtse Valley. 



171. Ceryle guttata, Vigors. 



(125.) Ceryle lugubris, Temm. ; Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1871, 

 p. 348. 



A scarce bird, found among mountain-streams. I have 

 seen two shot at Maychee, but have only met with it myself 

 among the Chekiang Hills. 



172. Halcyon pileatus (Bodd.). 



(121.) Comes annually to breed in the Yangtse Valley. 

 Young birds leave the nest in July ; they resemble the 

 parents, but have a shorter bill, yellow-brown in colour. 



173. Halcyon smyrnensis (L.). 



(122.) David says this species ranges as far north as 

 Shanghai, and Swinhoe says " Shanghai to Hainan "; hut it 

 must be a rare straggler here, and I have never met with it 

 in the district. 



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