1919-] Birds observed in Palestine. 239 



year. At Jaffa I first saw birds on northward migration 

 on 3 April. By 20 April tliere were hundreds, but nearly 

 all passed on, and at the beginning of June they were quite 

 couimon, but only a remuaut of the earlier numbers. 



Upupa epops. Hoopoe. 



The earliest appearance was at Jaffa 21 February. At 

 no time did I see tliem at all commonly. None remained 

 during summer, I noticed migrants again on 28 July. 



Alcedo ispida pallida. Kingfisher. 



1 o , Wadi Ghuzze, 15. viii. 17. 



I found this species on the Wadi Ghuzze in September 

 near Sliellal. At the mouth of the wadi, south of Gaza, 

 hundreds were seen during migration. I also found them 

 duriug the winter at Jaffa, where they would sit on the rocks 

 in the sea and fish in the pools around. 



Ceryle rudis. Pied or Black-and-White Kingfisher. 

 A few were to be seen at Jaffa and in Yebna Marsh during 

 the winter of 1917-18, and one pair nested at Nahr Auja. 



Halcyon smyrnensis. Smyrna Kingfisher. 

 1 c?, Jaffa, 13. V. 18. 



Two males were secured close to Jaffa on the river Auja, 

 13 and 14 May, 1918. Several pairs bred later. 



Coracias garrulus. Roller. 



1 S , Ramleh, 9.V. 18. 



A large number passed througii the country near Gaza 

 from 7 September to about 14th. They reappeared on 

 1 May near Gaza, and almost simultaneously near Jaffa. 

 Common in Yebna Marsh 12 May. 



Flammea flammea. Barn-Owl. 



Up to the time of writing I have only heard of one speci- 

 men being taken. This was near Khan Yunus, Gaza, 

 September 1917. I saw the skin. I also saw a bird at 

 night in moonlight about the same date aud locality. 

 It appears to be an uncommon species in southern Palestine, 

 aud perhaps only occurs on migration. 



