IX 



THE ROOSTING OF THE 

 BEE-EATERS 



ONE evening in August I was ** on the 

 prowl " with a pair of field-glasses, when 

 I came across a tree from which eman- 

 ated the twittering of many green bee- 

 eaters (Merops viridis). As the sun was about to set, it 

 was evident that these alluring little birds were get- 

 ting ready to go to sleep. Most birds seem to roost 

 in company. They do so presumably for the sake 

 of companionship, warmth, and, perhaps, protection. 

 To my mind there is no sight more amusing than that 

 of a number of Httle birds going to bed, so I turned 

 aside to watch these emerald bee-eaters. The tree in 

 question was an isolated one, growing at the side of a 

 field. I do not know its name, but it was about 

 twenty feet high, with fairly dense foliage, the leaves 

 being in colouring and shape not unlike those of the 

 rose. The bee-eaters in the tree were making a great 

 noise ; all were twittering at the top of their musical 

 little voices, and, as there were certainly more than 

 forty of them, to say nothing of some other birds, the 

 clamour may be imagined. From a little distance it 



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