956 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XX. 



756. S ad. Kohat, 1,760 ft., 28th March. 



Abundant in summer, the majority arriving about the 20th of March and 

 leaving in the middle of October. In a mild year odd birds and even 

 parties of five or six are seen at intervals throughout the winter. 



[1027.] Merops philippinus. The Blue-tailed Bee-eater. 



Eattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 342 (Thall : June.) 



We have not met with the Bee-eater in Kohat. Colonel Rattray, however, 

 observed a pair at Thall in June. 



Major Magrath has found it not uncommon in Bannu in early autumn 

 and has procured an example. It is very common round Rawal Pindi. 



[1028.] Mbrops persicus. The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. 



Major Magrath saw what he took to be this species in large numbers 

 between Basal and the Indus, just outside our limits, in July 1907, and also 

 observed one at Khushalgarh just inside. Another which he obtained 

 in Bannu, where the bird is fairly common in summer, is now in the National 

 Collection. 



[1029.] Merops apiaster. The European "Bee-eater. 



Marshall, J. B. N. H. S. xv. p. 351 (Quetta : common summer visitor) ; 

 Fulton, op. cit. xvi. p. 57 (a few breed in Chitral) ; Betham, t. c. p. 749 

 (nests freely round Quetta) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii, p. 725 (abundant in 

 summer). 



Passes through Kohat in April and the beginning of May, returning in 

 August and September. Possibly a few pairs nest round Thall; several 

 were certainly there up to the time that I left (May 20th), and Capt. Keen 

 informs me that he saw some there in July. This species breeds freely in 

 the Kurram Valley from 3,000 to 7,000 feet. Towards the end of July, when 

 nesting-operations were over, flocks of from ten to forty used to fly up the 

 valleys of the Safed Koh to tree-limit (12,000 feet) every morning, and 

 return at dusk. 



[1033.] Ceryle varia. The Indian Pied Kingfisher. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 342 (common at Thall : nests in March) ; 

 Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 725 (very common up to 6,000 ft.). 



A resident, but not very common, though found along most of the streams 

 of the District, and in the Kurram Valley at least up to Dandar (4,700 feet). 



[1035.] Alcedo ispida. The Common Kingfisher. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 342 (Thall: an uncommon resident) ; 

 Marshall, op. cit. xv. p. 351 (Quetta : common in spring) ; Cumming, op. cit. 

 xvi. p. 689 (a common resident in Seistan) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 725 

 (abundant in Kashmir up to 6,000 ft.). 



Common in the cold weather. 



It nests fairly commonly in the Miranzai and Kurram Valleys, but only a 

 few pairs stay to breed in the plains around Kohat. It may often be seen 

 hovering over water after the manner of Ceryle varia, if no perch is available 



