116 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Since this information was transmitted, I have received 

 notices of this bird from many other sources, which enable 

 me to state with tolerable certainty that it is spread during 

 summer at least over the whole of the southern portion of 

 the interior, from Queensland to Swan River, Strange to 

 say, however, I have never seen examples of this species in 

 any collection formed out of Australia ; yet the occurrence of 

 a bii'd whose wing-powers are so great might naturally be 

 expected in New Guinea or some of the adjacent islands. 



Crown of the head light brown, surrounded by a ring of 

 white ; lores black ; a broad band commencing at the eye, 

 and passing round the back of the neck, brown ; centre of the 

 back, throat, chest, and under surface of the shoulder white ; 

 wings and tail brownish black; rump, upper tail-coverts, 

 abdomen, and under tail-coverts black ; irides dark reddish 

 brown ; bill blackish brown ; legs and feet greenish grey. 



Family MEROPIDiE. 



Like all other extensive families of birds, the varied mem- 

 bers of the Meropidse or Bee-eaters are divisible into many 

 genera. In India, we find the beautiful Nyctiornis amictus 

 and its two allies ; and in Africa, several other genera, com- 

 prising birds of considerable size and gaiety of colouring. 



These aerial birds live almost exclusively on insects, and it 

 is while engaged in the capture of these that the very beautiful 

 colours with which they are adorned are shown to the greatest 

 advantage. In their mode of nidification and in the colour- 

 ing of their eggs they are allied to the Kingfishers. 



Generally speaking, the sexes are alike in plumage, and 

 differ but little in size. 



Genus MEROPS, Limiceus. 



India and Africa may be said to be the great nursery of this 

 lovely group of birds ; of which one, common in the southern 

 parts of Europe, is beautifully represented in Australia by 

 the Merops ornatus, the only species inhabiting that country. 



