2. MELITTOPHAGtrs. 49 



CoM-sp. i. p. 163 (1850); Dresser, Monogi: Merop. p. 107, pi. 24 



(188-5). 

 Melittophagus variegatiis, Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 86 (1846). 

 Melittophagus cyanipectus, Terr. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p. 269. 

 Merops sonuiuii, Reichenh. Hanclb., Merop. p. 71, Taf. 447. fig. 3237 



(1852). 

 Merops cyanipectus, Reichenh. t. c. p. 71 (1852). 

 Sphecopliobus sonninii, Reichenh. t. c. p. 82 (1852). 

 Sphecopliobus cyanipectus, Reichenh. t. c. p. 82 (1852). 

 Melittophagus angolensis, (nee Gm.), Cab. S)- Seine, Mus. Hein. 



Th. ii. p. '135 (1860). 

 Merops angolensis {nee Gm.), Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 100, no. 1219 



(18G9) ; Reichen. J. f. O. 1877, p. 21 ; Sharpe, Journ. Li?in. Soc, 



Zool. xvii. p. 435 (1884). 



Adult male. Similar to J/. j^t'siUus, and ha\ ing the base of the 

 forehead green like the crown, thus showing only a few blue super- 

 ciliary feathers ; the fore neck, however, is blue, as in J/, lafresnayii. 

 Total length 6o inches, culmen 1*2, wing 3-4, tail 2-5, tarsus 0-35. 



Young. Greener above than the adult, and differing in the colour 

 of the under surface ; the throat pale yellowish, with no blue on 

 the fore neck, this being replaced by a brownish shade, the breast 

 being emerald-green, streaked with dusky. 



Hah. West Africa, from Senegambia to the Congo, extending 

 into Equatorial Africa. 



a. Ad. sk. River Gambia. Sharpe Coll. 



b. Ad. sk. Gaboon. Sharpe Coll. 



c. d. Ad. sk. Gaboon (T. Thompson). Shelley Coll. 

 e. Ad. ;/. Juv.sk. Gahoon (Du Chaillu). Sharpe Coll. 



^. Ad. ; /(. Juv. sk. Gaboon (Du Chail/u). Tweeddale Coll. 



i. c? ad. sk. Omoro, Gaboon, June 13 Sharpe Coll. 



[J. Skertchley). 



k. Ad.sk. River Congo. Commander Sperling [P.]. 



I. Ad. sk. Mushi-a Rek, Equatorial F. Bohndorff [C.]. 



Africa. 



5. Melittophagus lafresnayii. 



Merops variegatus {nee V.), Kittl. Enpf. ViSg. p. 5, pi. 7 (1832) ; 

 Riipp. Neue Wirh., Vog. p. 72 (1835"-40) ; id. Sgsf. Uebers. p. 24 

 (1845) : Horsf. S; Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E. I. Co. i. pp. 89, 416 

 (1864) ; Heu'gl. Syst. Uebers. p. 19 (1856) ; Schl. Mus. Pays-Bas, 

 Merops, p. 11 (1863). 



Merops lafresna\'ii, Guerin, Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 322 ; Gray, Gen. B. 

 i. p. 86 (1846) ; Guerin in Fen: ^- Galin. T'ni/. Ahyss. iii. p. 243, 

 pi. 15 (1847) ; Brehni, Reis. Hahesch, p. 210 (1863) ; Ileugl. J.f. O. 

 1864, p. 355; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 100, no. 1220 (1869); Heugl. 

 Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 206 (1869), iv. p.lxvi (1871) ; Blanf. Geol. Sf 

 Zool. Abi/ss. p. 322 (1870) ; Fiiisch, Trans. Zool. Soc. vii. p. 225 

 (1870) ; id. ^- Hartl. Voy. Ostafr. p. 192, note (1870). 



Merops lefebvrii, Des Murs, Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 243 ; id. in Lefebvr. 

 Voy. Ahyss. pp. 83, 164, pi. 5 (1845) ; id. Iconogr. Orn. pi. 34 

 (1846). 



Melittophagus lafresnavi, Bp. Consp. i. p. 163 (1850) ; Dresser, 

 Mo7igr. Merop. p. 105, pi. 23 (1884). 



VOL. XVII. E 



