98 A HAND-LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



MEROPS APIASTER 



205. Merops apiaster L. — THE BEE-EATER. 



Merops apiaster Liunanis, Syst. Xat., ed. x, i, p. 117 (1758 — " Habitat 



in Europa australi, Oriente "). 



Merops apiaster Linnaeus, Yarrell, 11, p. 435 ; Saunders, p. 283. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Vagrant. England. — Over forty 

 obtained and many others seen, chiefly south of Derby, but seven 

 in Yorks. Scotland. — Five or six seen or obtained on mainland, 

 and one Shetlands. Ireland. — Over twenty seen or obtained. 

 Generally appears in spring, but also in autumn ; often two or three 

 together, and flocks of six or seven have been reported from Ireland. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — South Europe and Mediterranean islands, 

 Africa north of Sahara, north to Camargue in south France, Danube 

 in Hungary, and south Russia, eastwards to Transcaspia, Turkestan 

 and west Siberia, Asia Minor, Syria, Persia, Afghanistan, and Kash- 

 mir. During migration and in winter in tropical Africa south to 

 Cape Colony (where also said to nest), and north-west India. Often 

 strays north of its regular range and has nested at least three times 

 in Germany, once found in Lapland, several times in central and 

 even north Russia, and in Scandinavia and Denmark, Heligoland, 

 Germany, Belgium, Holland, north France, and Luxemburg. 



[XoTE. — The Blue -TAILED Bee-Eater, Merops philippinus L., recorded 

 from near Seaton Carew in 1802, cannot be admitted (Yarrell, 11, p. 442 ; 

 Saunders, p. 284).] 



UPUPA EPOPS 



206. Upupa epops epops L. — THE HOOPOE. 



Upupa Epops Linnaeus, Syst. Xat., ed. x, i, p. 117 (1758 — Europe. 



Restricted typical locality : Sweden). 



Upupa epops Linnseus, Yarrell, 11, p. 419 ; Samiders, p. 285. 



Distribution. — England and Wales. — Passage-migrant, regular in 

 spring but less frequent in autumn, on south and south-east coasts 

 England. North of Thames on east coast frequent, but less regular ; 

 elsewhere a vagrant, rare in north Wales (six only), midlands and 

 north-west England. Has nested from time to time in all south 

 coastal counties (perhaps most frequently Hants.) as well as Surrey 

 and Wilts. Has occurred in winter in various counties even in 

 north. Scotland. — Vagrant. Has occurred in most parts, including 

 I. and O. Hebrides, Orkneys, Fair Isle, and Shetlands. Ireland. — 

 Almost annual passage-migrant in spring and autumn on south 

 coast, but has never nested. Vagrant elsewhere. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Europe, more frequent in south. East- 

 wards to west Siberia and west Turkestan, breeding apparently alsoin 

 north-west India. In mnter in Africa as far as Gambia, Haussaland 



