60 Mr. P. W. Munu on the Birds 



found a nest on May 4, 1890, which contained six young ones 

 of all sizes, from the largest, which flew out of the hole 

 and escaped, to the smallest, scarcely fledged. Just inside the 

 mouth of the hole was a cavity, where they sat to be fed by 

 the parent birds, as they could not all possibly sit in the 

 passage leading to the nesting-chamber ; this nesting- 

 chamber was about three feet deep in a bank, and was 

 strewn with the legs, wings, wing-cases, &c. of insects. On 

 being disturbed all the young retired to this chamber. 

 Until the young are hatched the nests are exceedingly 

 difficult to find, as they are made in such inconspicuous 

 holes, and the birds are so shy and wary. 



The nesting-holes are usually in the banks surrounding 

 orchards and cultivated enclosures, and also in the bunds 

 between the paddy-fields. Though these birds are so con- 

 spicuous during the greater part of the year, during the hot 

 season, when engaged in breeding, they retire to quiet 

 places to rear their young, and unless these places are 

 visited, one might think that they migrated from the district 

 altogether during that season. 



After the rains, and throughout the cold season, every 

 evening I used to see large flocks of this Bee-eater flying 

 overhead, probably to some favourite roosting-place. 



83. Merops philippinus. (Blue-tailed Bee-eater.) 

 A visitor — only during the rainy season — from June to 

 August, and never very plentiful. They are found in small 

 flocks and always in bad plumage. They have a fine flight, 

 swishing from their perches after insects with a bold 

 sweeping flight, and a loud snap of the beak is heard when 

 one is caught. Between Dum Dum and Belghurriah 

 stations on the E. B. S. Railway, during the season, several of 

 these birds may always be seen on the telegraph-wires. 



83. Pal^ornts torquatus. (Rose-ringed Paroquet). 



Common, generally distributed, and resident. Breeds 

 during the hot season and at the beginning of the rains, 

 in holes in trees, temples, ruined buildings, &c., as well as 



