134 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRD55. 



and Cochm riiina ; it extends westwards into Assam, 

 racliar, Sylliet and Tipperah, and even as far as Calcutta, 

 Init from that place ea>twaTds for a ccnsiderablo distance 

 the birds are of mixed blood, for the two species interbreed 

 freely, in spite of the theories of those naturalists who 

 maintain that the distinctive markings of closely related 

 birds like this serve the purpose of preventing mesalliances. 

 Similar cases are those of the Goldfinches and Swallows, 

 which 1 have already mentioned, but no acquaintance 

 with such facts hampers the average Zoological theorist ! 



THE BEE-EATERS. 



Bee-eaters ar«^ birds (»l rather small size, with long 

 curved bills and very small feet ; there are three toes in 

 front joined together m a common skin, and one behind. 

 The wings are powerful, and the birds live on insects 

 captured in Might. Tlir {ihimaue is always very pretty ; 

 the cock and hen are alike in colour, and the young 

 closely resemble them. The P>ee-eaters lay white eggs 

 in a burrow which they dig out themselves, many pairs 

 breeding in (•omj)ai>y. 



They are found in warm and temperate climates 

 in the Old World, aiul seveifil kinds are to be seen in 

 India. Of these one is among the commonest birds in 

 the country. 



Thk (iRKKN Hke-KATKR {Mevops rindis). Thi> bird, 

 connnonly called a Flycatcher bv Europeans and known 

 in Hiiulustani as Patrini/a, and in P)engali as Banspati, 

 is conspicuous everywh«'r<' by its beautiful green plnni- 

 mage and habit of sitting motioidess on a peich and 



