466 
Mr. Douglas Carruthers on the 
breeds in the holes of the walnut trees. In winter tlie vast 
majority go south, but I observed a few in Samarkand on 
the 29th of January, when snow was on the ground. 
110. MEROPS APIASTER. 
Merops apiaster Sharpe, Cat. B. xvii. p. 63. 
? imm. Samarkand. 15 Sept., 1907. No. 45. 
The Bee-eater arrives during the first week in May : the 
majority pass the Zarafschan Valley and go further north 
to breed, but some remain. 
111. CoRACIAS GARRULUS. 
Coracias garrulus Sharpe, Cat. B. xvii. p. 15. 
$ . Samarkand. 1 May, 1908. No. 395. 
Hollers begin to arrive on the 1st of May, and are very 
common all the summer. They breed in the loess cliffs. 
112. Alcedo ispida. 
Alcedo ispida Sharpe, Cat. B. xvii. p. 141. 
S . Samarkand. 29 Oct., 1907. No. 141. 
$ . „ 29 Oct., 1907. No. 133; 
This Kingfisher is common on the Zarafschan River itself 
at about 2000 ft., and also on the small mountain streams 
up to 4500 ft. 
113. CYPSELUS MELBA. 
Micropus melba Hartert, Cat. B. xvi. p. 439. 
$ . Samarkand. 3 May, 1908. No. 400. 
This Swift is a summer visitor, arriving in Samarkand in 
great numbers on the 2nd of April. Here they haunt the 
ruined mosques and madresahs, where they breed. They 
also breed at 4000 ft. in the neighbouring hills, early in May. 
By the 6th of November they have all gone south again. 
114. ASIO ACCIP1TRINUS. 
Asio accipitrinus Sharpe, Cat. B. ii. p. 234. 
. Samarkand. 22 Dec., 1907. No. 249. 
cJ. Bokhara. 4 Dec., 1907. No. 208. 
This Owl is a common bird in the tamarisk-covered sand- 
dunes of Bokhara during the winter. 
