28o THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Egyptian Nightjar. Capr'wiulgus cegyptius Licht. 



The British status of the Egyptian Nightjar, whose normal 

 range is south-western Asia and north-east Africa, also hangs 

 on a single example, thought at first to be a pale variety of the 

 British bird, which was shot in 1883 in Nottinghamshire. It 

 has occurred elsewhere in Europe. It is a sandy grey and 

 black bird, without the rich buffs and browns of the Common 

 Nightjar, and the tail is without the characteristic white spots 

 in the male as well as the female. Length, 10-5 ins. Wing, 

 8*1 ins. Tarsus, '9 in. 



Sub-order MEROPES. 

 Family MEROPID^. Bee-eaters. 



The Bee-eaters, which have a wide range, are all brightly- 

 coloured birds with long curved bills, and often elongated 

 central tail feathers. The feet have the toes united, two of the 

 front toes joined for fully half their length. 



Bee-eater, Merops apiaster Linn. 



The Bee-eater (Plate 114) breeds in southern Europe, western 

 Asia and northern Africa, and migrates to southern Asia and 

 Africa. It is a gregarious species, much addicted to wandering, 

 and many individuals or small parties have reached the British 

 Isles both in spring and autumn. Though its visits are 

 irregular, they are so frequent that it must be looked upon as 

 an occasional visitor, though not a regular bird of passage. 



The gorgeously coloured bird, distinctly tropical in appear- 

 ance, at once attracts attention when it appears, especially as 

 it is neither shy nor secretive, and it seldom remains long in 

 England except as a specimen. As, however, it is reported to 



