YELLOW-THROATED BEE-EATER. G87 



Length to end of tail lOf inches ; bill along the ridge ] {'^, 

 along the edge of lower mandible l^S ; wing from flexure 

 5^2 ; middle tail-feathers 4iS ; tarsus |; hind toe ^\, its 

 claw /I ; second toe /g, its claw f *j ; third toe ^"i, its claw 

 4\ ; fourth toe {'^, its claw ^\. 



Female. — In the female, the tints are not so rich, the hind 

 part of the back is tinged with green, the yellow on the throat is 

 paler, and the dark band on the side of the head is tinged with 

 brown ; but the differences are not conspicuous. 



Habits. — This species of Bee-eater is said to be extensively 

 distributed in Africa, whence it passes in small flocks into the 

 countries along tha northern shores of the Mediterranean, some 

 individuals proceeding into Switzerland, France, and Germany. 

 It is also common in the Archipelago, Turkey, and the south- 

 ern parts of Russia. In England it has several times been met 

 with in Cornwall, Devonshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Suffolk, 

 Norfolk, and a few other counties. Mr Thompson of Belfast 

 states that he " saw an individual in a recent state, that was 

 shot on the 6th of October 1832, by Capt. James M'Dowall, at 

 his seat, near the Mull of Galloway." The same gentleman 

 mentions a few instances of its occurrence in Ireland. 



The various particulars relative to its habits that I have been 

 able to glean are as follows. It is gregarious in its migrations, 

 and when circumstances are favourable, breeds in numbers, per- 

 forating the clayey banks of the Don and Wolga, to the depth 

 of half a foot. The nest is formed of moss, and the eggs, from 

 five to seven in number, are of a roundish form, about an inch 

 in length, of a pure glossy white. They feed upon insects, es- 

 pecially bees, which they pursue much in the manner of swal- 

 lows ; their flight being rapid, and light, but less devious or 

 wavering than that of these birds, and when on wing they utter 

 a rich warbling chirp. 



Young. — According to ]\I. Temminck, " the young have 

 the upper parts of a greenish-brown ; above the eyes a red 



