1920.] Birds of Southern Palestine. 235 



Merops persicus. 



M. I), pi'r/icus Pall. 



One was shot at Ranileh on W. iv. when on passage. It 

 breeds in banks in the Jordan Valley according to Clarke, 

 and Tristram found a large colony in northern ►Syria at 

 Jerablus on the Euphrates. 



Upupa epops. 

 U. e. epops L. 



Obtained 17. viii., 21. ix., and two on 11, iii. There is a 

 very marked difference in the })ale worn plumage of the bird 

 shot on 17. viii., which is vinaceous isabelline, and the rich 

 vinaceous brown of the freshly-moulted bird shot on 21. ix. 



Hoopoes doubtless breed in Palestine, but we saw no sign of 

 them. Autumn passage at Rafa commenced on 27. vii,, when 

 a few single birds apj)eared in the gardens. By 27. ix. they 

 were fairly plentiful, and while at sea off Gaza I saw three 

 single birds approaching the shore from the north and flying 

 not more than a foot or so above the water. They became 

 scarce after 1. x., and the latest record was on 13. x. 



On spring passage at Rafa, they appeared on 2. iv. and 

 continued passing till 10. iv. Two years later the spring 

 passage at Ramleli commenced on 2o. ii. and lasted till 5. iv. 

 Several birds were seen in the Jordan Valley in the middle 

 of March, but none anywhere in summer. 



Coracias garrulus. 



Two birds of the year were obtained on 30. viii. and 4.ix. 

 The male has a wing of 195 mm. and the female 189 mm. 

 The adult })lumage beginning to show on the upper parts 

 more closely resembles that of semenuwi the eastern race, 

 but the length of wing is nearer that of the typical western 

 race. I therefore hesitate to refer them to either form 

 pending more material from Palestine. 



Rollers were not found breeding in southern Palestine, 

 though one was seen at Belah on 12. vi. 



The autumn migration commenced very early at Rafa, the 

 first birds being seen on 31.vii., when four passed. From 



