BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



151 



isabelline, or sandy-grey, dusted and otherwise marked 

 with white, grey, and brown. The general colouration is 

 much lighter than that of Caprimulgus Eiiropceus. Length, 

 about ten inches. 



SSecs^eater. 



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The Bee-eater {Merops apiaster^ Linnaeus) is a rare 

 irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British 

 Isles, and is a visitor in summer to countries adjacent 

 to the Mediterranean, in winter migrating to Africa. The 

 adult has the top of the head, nape, back, and wing- 

 coverts, rich chestnut brown, changing into light greenish- 

 blue on upper tail-coverts ; tail, greenish or bluish ; two 

 centre pair of rectrices elongated and tipped with black ; 

 lores and auriculars, black ; chin and throat, deep yellow, 

 with a band of black underneath ; scapulars, whitish ; 

 secondaries, chestnut, with broad tips of black ; quills, 

 bluish-green, tipped with black ; under parts, blue, tinged 



