NOTi:S ON THE BIRDS OF UPPER ASSAM. 551 



Essentially restricted to the grass lands in the plaiils interspersed with 

 patches of light forest or scattered trees. Dinjan to Panitola, Dibrugarh 

 20-12-03, $ ; Komolabari, Sibsagar, 1-15-9-04, a series collected. 



270. Merops philipinnus 'pliilippinus, L. [1027]. — Blue- tailed Bee-eater. 

 Occurs throughout the plains though migratory and locally distributed. 

 Rungagora (Plains) five miles below on R. Dibru, 16-3-03*, hawking for 



food at evening dusk , Rungagora, Dibrugarh, 6-4-02* ; Maijan (Plains), 

 Dibrugarh, April 1901 ; Rungagora .(Plains), Dibrugarh, 6-7-03, cJ ; Dejoo 

 (Base of hills), North Lakhimpur, 3-6-10*, several noted in the " hoolahs" 

 in a quarter of the garden a day or so before the burst of the south-west 

 monsoon; Dejoo, 26-6-08. Dhoolohat, 2-7-11, possibly noticed some few 

 days previously although no note made at the time; Dejoo, 5-7-'04, $, 

 13-7-04, S ?, 16-7-04, (5", 6 juv., 8-7-10*, in some numbers in the 

 "hoolahs" in garden, 4-9-08, $ ; Silonibari, 4-9-11, still in evidence and 

 again on 17-9-11 adults noted ; 30-9-11, wet weather at the time; Dejoo, 

 17-10-04, c? ad. 6 ad. ; Silonibari, 18-10-11, single ; Dejoo, 23-10-10, numbers 

 congregated in the light scrub growth on the left bank of the Dejoo R. 

 near the Runganuddie at the Mukh enlivening the air with their whistling 

 and gyrations. Is this preparatory to migration ? Bipuiia, Bodutird, 

 31-10-10, numbers congregated in the grass lands at dusk ; all appearances 

 point to a migration; Bipuria, 7-11-10, about seventy estimated in one 

 party in grass lands hereabouts. 



From the above records it appears this Bee-eater gradually recedes from 

 the forest regions to the open grass country in the plains towards the cold 

 season as I have no dates available for the terai for November and onwards 

 until their arrival the following year in June or July. Undoubtedly nests 

 in North Lakhimpur specimens procured in July lack the elongate middle 

 pair of tail-feathers and are birds of the year. 



271. MelittopJiagus sivinhoei (Hume.) [1030]. — The Chestnut-headed Bee- 



eater. 



Evidently a migrant and locally distributed, occurs in North Lakhimpur 

 generally in pairs, never abundant, records noted at commencement and 

 termination of rainy season. 



Khakoi R., North Lakhimpur, 21-3-05, $ ; Dejoo, about 20-4-03* ; 

 Dejoo (Hinni, Jan.), 3-6-10*, a day or so before burst of monsoon ; 

 27-6-08*, a pair in forest (Rajghur) ; 14-9-08*, a pair; 17-10--04, S ■ 



272. NyctiornU athertoni (Jard. and Selby.) [1031]. — The Blue-bearded 



Bee-eater. 

 Resident along the tract of country at tue base of the foot hills. 

 Rare in the plains. Rungagora, 18-11-01, single record ; Margherita, Decem- 

 ber, January, February, March; Dejoo, January, July, 29-8-08, a Bee- 

 eater which had hung around my bungalow, close to a jan or stream 

 to-day was hawking for food within a few feet of my window taking repose 

 in a small tree close at hand, familiar to a degree. Dejoo R. higher 

 reaches, (Daphla hills low elevations), 18-12-04, cJ. 



273. Ceryle rudis leucomelanura, Reichenb. [1033]. — The Indian Pied 



Kingfisher. 



Ceryle varia, Blanford, F. B. I., Vol. iii., p. 119. 

 This Pied Kingfisher is a familiar object on all the rivers in the plains. 

 Many such a little episode as the following may be seen any day pre- 

 paratory to the nesting period, frequently at such times three birds may 

 be seen in company, probably two males vieing for a female. Rungagora, 

 R. Dibru, 12-1-02. To-day I was a witness of some evolutions of a pair 

 of Kingfishers. A seated bird perched on a reed parallel to the water 



