130 COKAC11DJE. 



ALCEDINID.3E. 



160. Alcedo ispida, Linnseus. The Kingfisher. 



Moorish. Kandil el behar (lamp of the sea). Spanish. Martin 

 pescador. 



" This bird, only found from August to March, is not numerous 

 near Tangier, but is more abundant near Rabat." Favier. 



The Kingfisher is common in winter and spring near Gibraltar, 

 being frequently seen among the rocks on the coast, and often 



the " inundation " at the North Front ; and they have bred 

 near Gibraltar, where the majority arrive in October, leaving in 

 March. Arevalo says they are resident in Spain. 



Male. Above greenish blue ; middle of back, rump, and upper tail-coverts 

 cobalt-blue ; throat and patch on each side of neck white ; lores black ; 

 rest below rich chestnut ; bill black. Length 7^ inches. 



Female. Lower mandible reddish at base. 



CORACIIDJE. 



161. Coracias garrula, Linnseus. The Roller. 



Moorish. Sharrakrak. Spanish. Carlanco, Carraca. 



"This bird is seen in numbers near Tangier on passage, 

 migrating in pairs and crossing the Straits in April and May, 

 returning in August to retire further south. Their food is all 

 kinds of insects, even scorpions." Favier. 



The Roller breeds at Larache, nesting in holes of the walls of 

 the ramparts at the end of April. I did not observe any else- 

 where in Morocco, except about the ruins of " old Tangier." 



In Andalucia they are also very local, and arrive during the 

 latter end of March, leaving by September. I have seen one or 

 two in May near Casas Viejas, one 12th April, 1894, Sierra Retin, 

 while Verner saw one at Pulverilla, August 20, 1878 ; but they 

 are not common nearer to Gibraltar than the vicinity of Seville. 

 Thence along the valley of the Guadalquivir they abound, nesting 



