430 Mr. M. J. Nicoll — Contributions 



Alcedo ispida pallida. 



I have two males of this subspecies of Kingfisher collected 

 by Mr. Balboni on August 18th and 29th, 1910, respectively. 

 These are the only records I have of this bird in the Wadi, 

 where — as there are no fishes — there is nothing to attract 

 them. 



All the specimens of Alcedo ispida which I have examined 

 from Egypt are referable to this form, which is smaller, 

 with shorter wings, and a longer and more slender bill than 

 Alcedo i. ispida. 



CoilACIAS GAHRULUS. 



Coracias garndus Shelley, p. 168. 



On August 20th, 1910, Mr. Balboni obtained an adult 

 male Roller which had just started to moult. Nine days 

 later he obtained an immature specimen. Both of these are 

 now in my collection. 



Merops apiaster. 

 Merops apiaster Shelley, p. 169. 



1 have three examples of this Bee-eater which were shot 

 by j\Ir. Balboni during May 1910. 



Merops persicus persicus. 



Merops (pgyptius Shelley, p. 170. 



The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater visits the Wadi Natron 

 earlier than the " common ^^ species. I have specimens 

 obtained as early as April 1st, 1910. 



I do not know whether this bird breeds in the Wadi 

 Natron. 



INIerops lamarki cleopatra (Nicoll). 



Mr. Balboni saw a single example of a little Green Bee- 

 eater in the Wadi in the autumn of 1910. Unfortunately, 

 he was unable to secure it, but there is little doubt that it 

 belonged to this, the Northern form. 



Hartert has pointed out that "■ lamarki " is the correct 

 specific name of the small Green Bee-eaters and takes 

 precedence of " viridisj' 



