Birds from British East Africa. 511 



122. Caprimulgus inornatus. Plain Nightjar. 

 Caprimulgus inornatus Heugl. 



A pair of these birds were shot at Kallima Theki on 

 March 31st. They got up from some scrubby open ground 

 and I hoped that I might find the eggs, but a close search 

 revealed no sign of them. They look very small on the 

 wing and of quite a bright red colour. 



123. CoRAciAs GARRULUs. European Roller, 

 Curacias garrulus L. 



Iris brown; bill black; legs yellowish. 



During a large prairie-fire on the Kauti Plains great 

 numbers of Rollers were attracted by the thousands of 

 disturbed insects, and together with innumerable Harriers, 

 Kestrels, and Eee-eaters flew in and out of the flames to 

 catch the prey. Otherwise we did not see this species very 

 frequently. 



124. Merops apiaster. European Bee-eater. 

 Merops apiaster L. 



Large flocks of Bee-eaters passed over our camp one 

 evening on the Kauti Plains, all flying in a northerly 

 direction. Two examples were shot and proved to be 

 M. apiaster. This was the only time this species was seen, 

 so far as I know. 



125. Merops nubicus. Crimson-breasted Bee-eater. 

 Merops nubicus Grael. 



Iris red ; bill and legs black. 



This beautiful species was obtained at Kibwezi. It appears 

 to be distributed the whole way from the coast as far as Voi. 

 On my journey up, I saw it in several places sitting on the 

 telegraph-wires. 



126. Melittophagus albifrons. White-fronted Bee- 

 eater. 



Melittophagus albifrons (Cab. & Heine). 

 Iris red ; bill and legs black. 



AVhite-fronted Bee-eaters were plentiful round the shores 

 of Lake Naivasha, alighting on the tops of the reeds that 



