BEE-EATER. 283 



The late H. T. Archer reported seeing a Roller on the 

 banks of the Wharfe, near Ilkley, at the end of July 1881 

 (Field, 6th August 1881, and MS.). 



And lastly, an immature female, brought from Acklam-in- 

 Cleveland on 21st September 1901, was preserved by Mr. 

 Geo. Mussell of Middlesbrough, to whom I am indebted for 

 the information, and for an opportunity of examining the 

 specimen. 



BEE-EATER. 



Merops apiaster (Z.). 



Accidental visitant from Southern Europe and Northern Africa, 

 of very rare occurrence. 



This beautiful and rare visitant migrates northward in 

 spring, from its winter home in North Western India and 

 Africa, to the European Continent, whence a few stragglers 

 have found their way to our country. In Yorkshire it is 

 an accidental visitant, and has been met with on five occasions 

 only : — 



The first of these was at Sheffteld about 1849 (Morris, 

 " British Birds," Vol. I. p. 313). 



Mr. T. Stephenson of Whitby states (MS. 1880), " Wm. 

 Lister of Glaisdale says, several years ago a stuffed one was 

 in possession of the late Wm. Keld Agar in Fryup." 



Near Beverley a male was captured on 5th June 1880. 

 Though in full plumage, it was in very poor condition, and 

 it would seem that either the very cold weather, or its passage, 

 had been too much for it (F. Boyes, Field, 3rd July 1880). 



On gth June 1880, the late R. Richardson, bird stuff er, 

 Beverley, received a splendid male specimen from Filey, 

 said to have been caught alive in an exhausted state (Richard- 

 son MS.). 



And for an account of the most recent occurrence I am 

 indebted to Mr. G. W. Murdoch of Bentham, who, in a letter 



