1002 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIIL 
The Wi' 3 nieck — Jynx torquilla japonica. Bp. 
I first observed the Wryneck on April 8th being attracted by the noisy behaviour 
of a pair in some old trees near the chinch ; after this the species was common and 
was frequently to be heard in civil fines, and the surrounding willow groves and 
orchards ; about the end of April the call was less frequently to be heard but the 
birds were still about and evidently intending to breed. Two specimens obtained 
are rather grey in tint. 
The Pied Kingfisher — Ceryle rudis leucomelanura, Reich. 
Observed occasionally on the Dhal lake throughout my stay. 
The Common Kingfisher — Alcedo atthis pallasii, Rchb. 
Kingfishers were exceedingly abimdant in Srinagar throughout my stay. Their 
main stronghold was of course the confused labyrinth of plots of cultivation, float- 
ing gardens, and small channels, which fie between the Jhelum river and the Dhal 
lake, and to a lesser extent break up the margins of the lake itself. To thread 
this labyrinth in a “ Shikara” was to meet with an endless succession of these 
beautiful birds, here sitting motionless on some bough close to the passing boat, 
there flying before it in fright utteiing the familiar hard sharp squeak 
which is the call of the species. To leave the neighbourhood of the lake was not 
however to part with Kingfishers ; anywhere throughout the surrounding plain 
small pools and dykes provided their quota, and even for a short distance up 
the hill sides occasional birds might be seen, attracted by some suitable nesting 
site on the face of the slope. 
On my arrival the birds were already in pairs and many nest-holes were appar- 
ently ready for eggs : yet I was unable to find any hole containing eggs until 
May 8th on which date I took 7 fresh eggs from a burrow which had been found 
as early as April 8th, when the pair had been very noisy and tame, and apparently 
courting. 
It is well known h?w dirty the burrows of this species become after the young 
are hatched, but it was new to me to discover that the entrance tunnel starts to 
grow dirty with the excreta of the parent birds, before the eggs are even laid. 
Six adult specimens were preserved and their measurements are as follows 
No. 
Sex. 
Date. 
Billf. skull. 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Tarsus. 
3198 
6 
11th April 
47 
73 
33-5 
10-5 
3221 
6 
19th April 
46-5 
74 
34 
10 
3240 
6 
25th April 
47-5 
74 
34 
10 
3225 
2 
21st April 
45-5 
72 
34-5 
8-5 
3241 
2 
25th April 
42-5 
75-5 
35-5 
9-5 
3287 
2 
8 th May 
45 
77 
33-5 
9 
The sexes are alike in plumage : as regards the soft parts the dark brown iris 
the salmon mouth and the orange red feet with dusky claws are alike in both 
sexes. The bill is however very variable as follows : — 
No. 3198 Black. 
No. 3221 Blackish horn, a streak of salmon along sides of lower mandible. 
No. 3240 Black, base of lower M. homy. 
No. 3225 Blackish horn above, salmon horn below. 
No. 3241 Upper mandible purplish brown, anterior half black ; lower 
salmon red. 
No. 3287 Black, gape and lower surface salmon. 
The clutch of seven eggs which were taken measure respectively : — 21 x 17 '5, 
21 17, 21 X 17-5, 21 x 17-5, 20-5x17-5, 20-5 x 17-5, 20-5 x 17, mm. 
The European Bee-eater — Merops apiaster, L. 
The first Bee-eaters of the season were observed on April 22nd when a party 
of 8 were seen passing over head by the Gupkar gap, and a similar party was seen 
next day. By the end of the month the species had become common, their 
