478 NOTES, CHIEFLY OOLOGICAL, 



119— Merops swinhoii, Hume. 



April to June. — In Ceylon this Bee-eater usually breeds in 

 small colonies, numbering from three to ten pairs, and prefers 

 secluded river backs, but will nest in road-cuttings, or even 

 under roads, or in almost level ground. The nest-holes ai'e from 

 1 foot 9 inches to 4 feet 6 inches long, some level, some slop- 

 ing upwards — generally the latter. The egg-chamber is com- 

 monly 6 inches in diameter and 5 inches high, and in the 

 majority of cases is dug out at one side of the entranee 

 tunnel. The number of eggs varies from four to six ; occasion- 

 ally some are laid outside the nest-hole. Twenty eggs average 

 0-86" X 0-74". 



133— Ceyx tridactyla, Pall. 



It should be noted that the eggs of this bird are quite unlike 

 those of other Kingfishers. They have well-marked small 

 ends, and are also somewhat pointed at the other end. The 

 shells are of very fine texture, and are excessively fragile ; they 

 have a decidedly pink appearauce before being prepared, and 

 afterwards do not assume the opaque white of other eggs. The 

 bird breeds in dense forest or jungle, far from water, in the 

 banks of dry streamlets, the months being April, July, and 

 August, I believe, and probably also May. 



141.— Anthracoceros coronatus, Bodd. 



A young bird, presumably in nestling plumage, shot in 

 September, had all the feathers that are black in the mature 

 bird, except the primaries, secondaries, and the two central 

 rectrices, (which last were both new), broadly barred trans- 

 versely with dull brownish white, each feather having a band 

 near the end. The other plumage was like that of the adult. 



Intelligent natives, who have taken the eggs and young of 

 this Hornbill in the N.-W., N.-C, and Northern Provinces, 

 fully confirm the statements in Captain Legge's book. In the 

 absence of other information I therefore give what has been 

 learnt : — The birds breed from March to June, the holes being 

 always plastered up. The number of eggs varies from two to 

 four, white when newly laid, but much discoloured when partly 

 incubated. In every case one of the parent-birds was found 

 in the hole ; in one instance three young ones were with her, 

 " as large as the old bird,''' as well as an addled egg ; at other 

 times half-grown nestlings have been taken. 



148.— Palseornis torquatus, Bodd. 



There is a large colony of these birds along the coast adjoin- 

 ing Mannar island. How far they extend is uncertain, but for 



