114 IktEEOPIDiE. 



and Central Asia. Within Indian limits this Bee-eater breeds in 

 Kashmir and probably in Afghanistan, and has been observed 

 when migrating in the N.W. Punjab, Baluchistan, and on one 

 occasion in Sind. 



Habits, Sfc. Those of the genus. This and other large Bee- 

 eaters keep more on the wing than M. vi7nclis and feed on various 

 insects, chiefly bees and wasps. M. apiaster breeds in Kashmir 

 during May and June, and lays 4 to 7 eggs (6 being a common 

 number) in a chamber at the end of a deep hole. The eggs are 

 white and glossy, and measure about 1-08 by -Q. 



Genus MELITTOPHAGUS, Boie, 1828. 



This genus contains one Indian species, other kinds being 

 found throughout the Ethiopian region, whilst one, M. quinticolor, 

 inhabits Java, The only distinction from Merops is that the 

 middle pair of tail-feathers are no longer than the other 

 rectrices. Plumage and habits are similar to those of Merops, and 

 the two types are scarcely worth separating. 



1030. Melittophagus swinhoii. The Chestnut-headed Bee-eater. 



Merops erytbrocephalus ?, Gm. Si/st. Nat. i, p. 463 (1778) ; Blyth^ 



Cat. p. 53 ; Blyth ^- Wald. Birds Burma, p. 72. 

 Merops quinticolor, aimd Horsf. ^ M. Cat. p. 88 ; Jerdon, B. I. 



i, p. 208 ; Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 318 ; Godw.-Aust. J. A. S. B. 



xxxix, pt. 2, p. 266; Holdsio. P. Z. 8. 1872, p. 423 ; Jei-don, Ibis, 



1872, p. 3 ; Walden, Ibis, 1873, p. 301 ; Davidson, Jour. Bomb. 



N. H. Soc. \i, p. 332 (nee V.). 

 Merops swinhoei, Hume, N. §• H. p. 102 (1873) ; id. S. F. ii, p. 163 ; 



vii, p. 455 ; xi, p. 42 ; id. Cat. no. 119 ; Ball, S. F. ii, p. 386 ; vii, 



p. 203 ; Fairb. S. F. iv, p. 254 ; Armstromj, ibid. p. 305 ; Leqc/e, 



Birds Ceyl. p. 312: Parker, S. F. ix, p. 478; Davison, S. F. x, 



p. 350 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 95. 

 Merops leschenaultii, r/^wtZ Fairb. S. F. \, p. 394; Ajiders. Yunnan 



Exped., Aves, p. 582 ; Hume 4'- Dav. S. F. vi, p. 68 {nee V.). 

 Melittophagus leschenaulti, rywrf Oates, B. B. ii, p. 68. 

 Melittophagus qviinticolor, ajnid Dresser, Mon. Mer. p. 115, pi. xxvi ; 



Oates i7i Hume^s N. 8)- E. 2nd ed. iii. p. 67. 

 Melittophagus swinhoii, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xvii, p. 55. 

 Kurumewie Kurulla, Pook-Kira, Cingalese. 



Coloration. Whole crown with the ear-coverts, hind neck, and 

 upper back chestnut ; lores and a narrow line running back luider 

 the eye and ear-covei'ts black : interscapulars, scapulars, and 

 outside of m ings bright green ; quills the same, but (the tertiaries 

 excepted) with black tips and rufous inner margins ; rump and 

 upper tail-coverts pale blue ; tail-feathers green above, aU except 

 the median pair dusky on their margins and tips ; chin and 

 throat yellow ; a rufous-broAvn gorget joining the chestnut of the 

 upper surface, and bordered behind with black not extending to 

 the sides of the neck, but succeeded by an ill-defined yellow band ; 



