THE BIRDS OF LAHORE AND THE VICINITY. 569 



■ 1024. The European Roller — Coracias (jarrula. 



This bird arrives at Lahore on migration in September, when I have 

 shot it. I have not observed it at other times and do not know whether 

 it occurs on the spring migration or is a winter resident. 



1026. The Common Indian Bee-eater — Merops viridis. 



In this case again I can confirm Mr. Dewar's observation that 

 this bird is only a hot weather visitor to Lahore though I have 

 come across stragglers at different times during the cold weather. 

 For instance in two different years, viz., 1909 and 1910. I came 

 across several in the Lawrence Gardens in January where they 

 only remained a few days before disappearing again. I have seen 

 several birds at Lahore on 24th October 1909 which is some time 

 after their usual final disappearance and again on 24th February 1910, 

 though they did not arrive in their usual nimibers that year till 3rd 

 March. Finally I saw a solitary individual at Atari on 21st Novem- 

 ber 1909, which is the only occasion in the cold weather when I 

 have met this species entirely solitary, on other occasions it was in 

 parties of six to a dozen individuals. It breeds at Lahore in April 

 and May. 



1027. The Blue-tailed Bee-eater — Merops phili^ypinus. 



As Mr. Dewar has pointed out this species is another which is only a 

 hot weather migrant to Lahore, where I have not observed it after the 

 first week of October or before the last week of April. I have taken 

 hard set eggs on the 14th June and found well pledged young in a 

 nest on the 3rd of the same month, so it must also breed in May. 

 1033. The Indian Pied Kingfisher — Ceryle varia. 



A fairly common resident at Lahore. I have found its nest with 

 eggs in March. 

 1035. The Common Kingfisher — Alcedo ispida. 



Breeds at Lahore and is I believe resident, but is rather scarce. I 

 once found a nest in the course of construction at Lahore on 28th 

 March but it was deserted by the birds owing to my having disturbed 

 them. 

 1044. The White-breasted Kingfisher — Halcyon smyrnern^is. 



Common resident at Lahore. Breeds in April and May. 

 1062. The Common Orey Hornbill — Lophoceres birostris. 



The Fauna states that this bird is wanting in the Punjab, but I 

 have found it fairly common at Lahore, more especially in the hot 

 weather where I have found its nest on two occasions in the Lawrence 

 Gardens in May and have seen young ones following their parents 

 about later on in the hot weather. 



In the case of one of the nests the Hornbills had taken forcible 

 possession of a hole which a few days before had been occupied by a 

 pair of Roseringed Paroquets who vigorously protested against such 

 desecration of their rights but had to yield to the inevitable. When 

 later on I opened the hole I found the hen bird sitting on three eggs 

 but no trace of the former occupants. 

 1067. The Indian Hoopoo — Upupa indica. 



One of the common birds of Lahore and a resident. Breeds chiefly 

 in March though I have found young in May. 

 1073. The Common Indian Swift — Oypcelus affinis. 



I think this bird is more or less a hot weather migrant to Lahore, 

 only putting in an appearance for a few days at a time there during 

 the cold weather and being altogether absent during December and 

 January. It becomes common again in March and I have found 

 young in April and eggs in August. 



