474 



32. Athene cuculoides, Vigors. 



Lower Himalayan ranges, northern Punjab. Pretty common ; 

 killed one devouring a brown rat ; the crop contained a mouse and 

 beetles. 



33. Athene brama, Temminck. 



Common in the Deccan, Scinde, Punjab, and W. Himalayas. 



34. Athene brodiei, Burton. 



I saw one specimen of this small species near Simla on the W. 

 Himalayas. Not common. 



35. Upupa epops, Linn. 



India and on theWestern Himalayas as far north as ChineseTartary. 

 I found it common in Ladakb. Often seen on trees. Its cry re- 

 sembles the words hoo hoo. The Dicrnrus longicaudata (A. Hay) 

 is its frequent tormentor. On the fine glassy glades in the Valley 

 of Cashmere the Hoopoe may be seen digging its long bill into the 

 soft turf in quest of insects ; and just as its labour is nearly done, 

 down pounces the black Drongo Shrike (Dicrurus) to secure the 

 fruits of its toil. 



36. Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus). 

 India, common. 



37. Ceryle rudis (Linnaeus). 

 India and Himalayas, common. 



38. Alcedo bengalensis (Gmelin). 



India and Lower Himalayan ranges. Very plentiful on the 

 streams and lakes of Cashmere, and adding much to the beauty of 

 the far-famed Shalimar gardens and the delightful scenes in that 

 romantic land. 



39. Coracias indica, Linnaeus. 



India, W. Himalayas, Cashmere ; common. The C. garrula is said 

 (Blyth's Cat. As. Soc. Mus. p. 51) to frequent the latter country ; 

 but this I think is very doubtful. The Indian Holler is everywhere 

 abundant ; they perch on the broad tops of the mango trees in the 

 Deccan, and at dusk sport from tree to tree with a zigzag flight in 

 quest of insects. Their cry is harsh and loud. The nest is often 

 built in the thatch of houses or in chimneys. 



40. Merops apiaster, Linn. 



Plentiful at certain seasons and in particular localities both in the 

 Punjab and Western Himalayan ranges. May be seen in large 

 flocks at Peshawur, on a fine afternoon in summer, sailing overhead, 

 with that peculiar flight by which the family are so readily distin- 

 guished : it is usually after a shower of rain, when the White Auls 

 take flight and the air is filled with these insects, that the Bee-eater 



