BEE-EATERS 47 



Below it is cherry-pink, except the abdomen and under 

 tail-coverts, which are cobalt-blue. 



This beautiful bird is an inhabitant of the " low " countries 

 and is never found elsewhere than in the neighbourhood of 

 rivers. It ranges from Rustenburg in the Transvaal north- 

 wards to Mashonaland and the Congo. 



The following account is taken from Captain Alexander's 

 article in the 1900 volume of the Ibis. He met with a large 

 flock of these liee-eaters roosting amongst the reeds bordering 

 the Zambesi River: "... Soon a greal sight met our 

 eyes. Shaking themselves free of the reeds these birds, 

 some three hundred in number, and glorious in their feathered 

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

 in the last glows of a setting sun." 



The Little Bee-eater (Melittophagus meridionalis) is the 

 smallest member of the family. It is green above and 

 orange-fawn below, with a yellow chin and throat succeeded 

 by a narrow strip of blue, followed by a broad black band 

 on the chest. Length, 6| inches. 



It ranges from Natal and the Transvaal northwards to 

 beyond the limits of South Africa. It is fairly common 

 at Irene, south of Pretoria, where it frequents the mimosa 

 scrub along the Hennops Biver. It may be seen sitting 

 on a bush or wire fence, making occasional short darts into 

 the air after insects. 



The White-fronted Bee-eater (M. bullockoides) can be 

 easily recognised from the preceding > species by its con- 

 siderably larger size, greyish-white forehead, and carmine-red 

 throat. Length, 9 inches. 



This bird is exceedingly common along the Crocodile 

 Biver north of the " Poort " (gate), in the Magaliesberg 

 Bange (District Pretoria). 



During our visit in December, 1905, we had evidently 



