27 
appears, that the Red Mullet and other fish were found dead about 
the same time in Southampton Waters. 
The following paper was read :— 
1. NorrEs on THE Hasits oF somME INDIAN Birps. Pakr VII. 
By Lireut. BurGess. 
(Aves, Pl. LX XVIII.) 
Subfamily PRomERoPID. 
Genus Upupa. 
Urupra Erors. Hooroe. 
In the upper portion of the Deccan the Hoopoe is a common bird, 
frequenting gardens and woody spots, and is very partial to sandy 
plots of ground, particularly outside the walls of villages. In such 
places the sand is perforated with the conical holes of the ant-lion, 
and that this is the food sought for by the Hoopoe in these spots, I 
discovered on opening the gizzard of one, which was of a very soft 
texture, and contained one large grub and two or three ant-lions. 
The Hoopoe breeds in the months of April and May, building its 
nest in holes in the mud walls which surround towns and villages in 
the Deccan. I transcribe a note taken on 7th May 1850 on the 
subject : —“‘To-day a man brought me word that about fifteen or 
twenty days ago he found a pair of Hoopoes breeding in a hole in 
the walls of a town; the nest contained two young birds; it was 
composed of grass, hemp, and feathers. The same man tells me 
that he has discovered another pair building.” The head man of 
the town of Jintee brought me an egg of the Hoopoe, which has un- 
fortunately been broken. It was of a very pale blue, or rather skim- 
milk colour. He found a nest in a hole in a fort wall; it was made 
soft with a few pieces of hemp, and contained three eggs. 
Tribe FisstrostREs. 
Family Mrrorip. 
Genus Mreroprs. 
Merops 1npicus. Common InpIAN BEE-EATER. 
A common bird in the Deccan, but remarkable for its brilliant 
plumage, and active fly-catching habits. It chooses for its perch 
the outside twig of a tree, whence it makes its forage amongst the 
insect tribes that are brought out by the morning beams. The Bee- 
eater breeds during the months of April and May, laying its eggs in 
holes in banks. On the 13th May 1850, I found a pair of these 
birds breeding in a hole in a bank ; the hole was more than an arm’s 
length in depth. At the bottom of it I found three young birds, 
one very small, with scarcely any feathers on it; another somewhat 
larger, and the third of considerable size and pretty well fledged. 
There was no nest. 
