MEtioMDJ:. 211 



tnigrates to the south of Europe in spring to hreed, which it does 



in holes in banks, layino; several white ejrffs; and it is said to line 



its nest with the elytraj and legs of beetles. Either this or the 



previous species was observed by Burgess migrating in large 



numbers^ half way between Bombay and Aden, on the 8th or 9th 



of May. Some of them were taken on board-ship^ 



The only other Bee-eater from the East is M. badius from 



Malacca: one species occurs in Australia, and there are many 



in Africa. Some of these form a peculiar genuSj Melittophagtis, 



distinguished by their short wings, and more or less emarginate 



tail. 



Gen. Nyctiornis, Swainson. 



Syn. Bucia, Hodgson, postea Napophila; AlcemeropSi GeofF. 



Char. — Bill moderately long, well curved, strongs compressed, 

 ridge flattened towards the base, wnth a parallel groove on each side ; 

 nostrils concealed by setaceous feathers ; wings moderate, f ullj roun- 

 ded, 4th quill longest; tail longish, nearly even; feet short, much as 

 in Merops. Plumage lax, soft and dense, with a plume of long stiff 

 pectoral feathers, differently coloured. 



This genus chiefly differs structurally from MeroiJs in its shorter 

 and rounder wing. Two of the known species have finely colour- 

 ed elongated plumes on the throat and breast. The Indian one pos- 

 sesses a coecum 1 inch long, according to Hodgson It has also a 

 long tongue, slightly brushed at the tip. 



122. Nyctiornis Athertoni, Jard. and Selby. 



Merops, apud J. and S., 111. Orn. I. 58— Bltth, Cat. 228— 

 HoRSF., Cat. Ill— N. cferuleus, Swainson — M. amherstiana, 

 ROYLE — Bucia nipalensis, Hodgson — Merops cyanogularis, 

 Jerdon, Cat. 242 — Napophila meropina, Hodgs. — Bukay Chera, 

 Nepal — Sangrok pho, Lepcli. 



The Blue-necked Bee-eater. 



Descr. — General colour bright vernal green, shaded on the 

 belly and vent with buff; forehead blue ; gular hackles rich ultra- 

 marine-blue, formed of a double series of long, drooping plumes, 

 ranged opposite each other on either side of the median line ; lining 



