60 



MEROPIDJ;. 



Meropogon muelleri, Cassin, Journ. Philad. Acad. (2) iv. p. 322, 



pi. 49. fig. 2 (1800). 

 Nyctioinis muelleri, Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 98, no. 1198 (1869). 

 Melittopbagus muelleri, Dresser, Monogr. Merop. p. 127, pi. 30 



(1885). 



Adult. General colour above dark chestnut or marooi), the 

 scapulars like the back, as also the lower back ; rump and upper 

 tail-coverts deep ultramarine ; wing-coverts dull chestnut ; primary- 

 coverts dusky brown ; quills chestnut, edged with dusky brown, and 

 duskj' at the ends, especially of the primaries ; the inner second- 

 aries chestnut, greyish green along their inner webs ; centre tail- 

 feathers dusk)' ultramarine, the remainder black, washed externally 

 with blue ; crown of head and nape ultramarine, brighter blue on 

 the eyebrow ; the forehead bright cobalt ; lores black ; sides efface 

 and ear-coverts ultramarine, brighter blue on the fore part of the 

 cheeks ; throat bright scarlet ; sides of neck ultramarine ; lower 

 throat and fore neck black ; chest ultramarine, the remainder of 

 the under surface brighter and more cobalt-blue, including the under 

 tail-coverts ; under wing-coverts and inner lining of quills pale 

 chestnut. 



Hah. West Africa, from the forests of the Gold Coast to Gaboon. 



a. Ad. sk. Fantee {Auhinn). Sharps Coll. 



b. Ad. sk. Gold Coast. SheUey CoU. 



2. Merops bicolor. 



Lb Guespier de I'isle de France, Briss. Orn. iv. p. 543, pi. 44. fig. 2 



(1760) ; Daubetit. PL Enl. vi. p. 252. 

 Le Petit Guespier des Philippines, Briss. t. c. p. 555, pi. 43. fig. 2 



(1760). 

 Le Guepier marron et blue. Month. Hist. Nat. Ois. vi. p. 493 



(1779> 

 Merops americanus, P. L. S. Mitll. Syst. Nat. Suppl. p. 95 (1776); 



Cass. Proc Philad. Acad. 1864, p. 243. 

 Chestnut Bee-eater, Lath. Gen. Syn. i. pt. 2, p. 677 (1782). 

 Merops bicolor, Bodd. Tahl. PL EjiL p. 15 ( 1783) ; Wald. Trans. 



ZooL Soc. ix. p. 150, pi. xxvi. fig. 1 (1875); Tiveedd. P. Z. S. 



1877, pp. 540, 690, 757, 822 ; id. P. Z. S. 1878, pp. 282, 340 ; 



Dresser, Monogr. 3Ierop. p. 27, pi. 7 (1884) ; Steere, List B. ^ 



Mamm. PUlipp. p. 9 (1890). 

 Merops badius, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 462 (1788) ; Gray, Gen. B. i. 



p. 86 (1846) ; Beichenh. Handb., Merop. p. 75, Taf. 449. fig. 3244 



(1852). 

 Merops castaneus, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 273 (1790) ; VieiU. N. Diet. 



dHist. Nat. xiv. p. 18 (1817). 

 Le Guepier marron et bleu, ou Le Guepier Latreille, male, LevailL 



Hist. Nat. Gu<}piers, iii. p. 45, pi. 12 (1807). 

 Merops hvpoglaucus, Beichenb. Handb., Merop. p. 76, Taf. 449. fig. 



3245 (1852). 

 Melittophas badius, Beichenb. t. c. p. 82 (1852). 

 Melittophas hypoglaucus, Reichenb. t. c. p. 82 (1852). 

 Merops ornatus {nee Lath.), Von Martens, J.f. 0. 1866, p. 17. 



Adult male. Back and scapulars green, as well as the wing- 



