228 
Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds 
43. Ceryle rudis. (“Dobie Bird.”) 
Very common in the cold season : is called the “Dobie Bird” 
from being so often observed near where the “ Dobies ” or native 
washermen are at work. It is generally seen hovering in the 
air like a Kestrel, and, pouncing down like a stone, will go quite 
under water. The cry of this bird is loud, shrill, and inces¬ 
santly repeated. 
44. Alcedo bengalensis. 
This beautiful miniature of our English Kingfisher is not 
seen nearly so often as the preceding species, or Halcyon smyr- 
nensis , and, unlike the latter, prefers running streams. The most 
splendidly coloured of the Indian Kingfishers, H. coromanda, 
did not come under my notice, and probably is not found in Oudh. 
45. Coracias indica. (Indian Roller.) 
Called “Blue Jay” by Europeans, and “ Neel Kant” (Bine 
Crow) by the natives. Is seen in great numbers throughout the 
year, and breeds in roofs of houses and in holes of trees. 
They perform the same aerial antics as C. garrula , but are much 
more noisy, and very annoying during the breeding-season, in 
May and June. They make holes for their nests in the thatch 
of bungalows, and used to create such a disturbance, that I kept 
a gun ready-loaded for them; but it was labour in vain—no 
sooner was one pair disposed of than others appeared. This 
species certainly interbreeds with the more southern and eastern 
C. affinis , as there are specimens in the Calcutta Museum, 
evidently hybrids. The European C, garrula has been killed at 
Mooltan, and also in Affghanistan. 
46. MEROPS PHILIPPINES. 
Seen in the hot season, but not in any numbers. 
47. Merops yiridis. (Green Bee-eater.) 
Excessively numerous throughout the year: ten or more may 
often be seen sitting on the same bush; and on the telegraph 
wires on the Grand Trunk Road, I once saw, in the early morn¬ 
ing, upwards of fifty within twenty yards. In one habit this 
bird resembles our Spotted Flycatcher ( Muscicapa griseola) : it 
is incessantly flying a few feet in chase of insects^ and settling 
