212 BIRDS OF THE PLAINS 



eaters look spick and span, even when in the midst 

 of this hard labour. The dry sand that envelops 

 them, far from soiling their plumage, acts as a dust 

 bath. When the hole, which is about two inches in 

 diameter, has reached a length of some four feet, it is 

 widened out into a circular chamber about twice the 

 size of a cricket ball. In this three or four white eggs 

 are laid. These have been well described as " little 

 polished alabaster balls." They are placed on the bare 

 ground. Young bee-eaters lack the elongated bristle- 

 like tail feathers of the adult birds. A very pleasing 

 sight is that of a number of the youngsters sitting in 

 a row on a telegraph wire receiving instruction in 

 flying. 



In conclusion, mention must be made of a near 

 relative of the little bee-eater. I allude to the blue- 

 tailed species {^Merops philippimis), which also occurs 

 in Madras. This is a larger and less beautiful edition 

 of the green bee-eater. It is distinguishable by its size, 

 the rusty colour of its throat, and its blue tail. It is 

 usually found near water. He who shoots snipe in the 

 paddy near Madras comes across numbers of these 

 birds sitting on the low walls that divide up the fields. 

 The habits of the blue-tailed bee-eater are those of its 

 smaller cousin. Although its song is more powerful, 

 it is a less attractive bird. 



