98 Mr. B. Alexander — An Ornithological 



(luring the tedious work of getting her oft' we took a eanoe 

 to explore a small island that was overgrown with long dead 

 grass and masses of fish-cane. In our ramble, our 

 attention was attracted to another little reed-grown island 

 some 100 yards distant in mid-stream. 



The reeds were literally festooned with the bodies of Bee- 

 eaters and bending under their weight. Most of the birds 

 were already asleep, and the reports of onr guns threw them 

 snddcnly into confusion, many clinging to the reeds, hardly 

 realizing what had taken place. Soon a great sight met our 

 eyes. Shaking themselves free of the reeds, these birds, 

 some 300 in number and glorions in their feathered coats 

 of scarlet, mounted into the air, and were soon bathed in the 

 last glows of a setting sun. They massed them.selves together 

 after the manner of Starlings, making all the time a great 

 noise, in a single note that closely resembled the cry of the 

 Fieldfare. Many times they advanced towards their favourite 

 little island of rest, but only to retreat, and it was not until 

 our canoe had left that the leaders of tlsis great flying column 

 of feathered redcoats proclaimed a halt for the night. 



From Senna to the Kafue river we constantly observed in 

 certain localities flocks of these Bee-eaters. 



During the winter months, partial migrations occur to and 

 from different reaches of the river, these movements being 

 influenced to a great extent by the yield of insect-life. 



Essentially river-birds, they never stray very far from water. 

 Dried-up watercourses that are studded with pools, and flat 

 reedy land interspersed with tall trees, are their resorts ; and 

 more than once during the day, generally in the early 

 morning and again towards evening, they may be observed 

 journeying from one favourite feeding-ground to another, 

 flying high overhead, sometimes being invisible, and betraying 

 their line of flight only by their cries, which sound at a 

 height very ventriloquial. 



During the heat of the day this Bee-eater will remain for 

 hours inert, being quite indifferent to a near approach. A 

 gloriously-coloured bird it appears as it sits perched on the 

 stooping back of a bright green reed. It has indeed a 



