382 A TENTATIVE CATALOGUE OF THE BIRDS OE 



119.— Merops swinhoii, Hume. The Indian Chest- 

 nut-headed Bee-eater. 



This is another forest-loving species, affecting the same loca- 

 lities as the hist, and is not very common. I noticed it on the 

 Ambolee Ghat, west of Belgaum. 



120.— Merops persicus, Pall. The Egyptian or 

 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. 



Cold weather visitant. Rare. Mr. .Davidson obtained a speci- 

 men in immature plumage at Pandharpur, about 100 miles 

 east of Sholapur, in October. There is no other record of its 

 occurrence within the region, so probably it only occurs as 

 a straggler. 



122. — Nyctiornis athertoni, Jard. & Selb. The Blue- 

 necked Bee-eater. 



Hare. Obtained by Mr. Laird in the forest tract west of 

 Belganm. I have not heard of any other instance of its occur- 

 rence within the region. 



123. — Coracias indica, Lin. The Indian Roller. 



Permanent resident in some localities, migratory in others, 

 retiring to the better-wooded tracts to breed. Common, as a 

 rule, throughout the region in the cold weather. 



127. — Pelargopsis gurial, Pears. The Brown- 

 headed Kingfisher. 



Bare. Mr. Fairbank mentions having seen it on the Koina 

 river, near Mahableshwar. Mr. Laird obtained it in the forests 

 west of Belgaum, and Mr. Vidal includes it in his list of 

 Batnagiri species. It does not occur in the plains portion of 

 the region, excepting, perhaps, where there is thick jungle. 



129.— Halcyon smyrnensis, Lin. The White-hreast- 

 ed Kingfisher. 



Permanent resident. Common throughout the region. 



130.— Halcyon pileata, Bodd. The Black-capped 

 Purple Kingfisher. 



Very rare. Mr. Vidal obtained it in Batnagiri, the only 

 instance recorded of its occurrence within the region. It is a 

 coast species, and not likely to be found at any distance from 

 the sea. 



