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would fall short of it’s object by about one-third of an inch. My

theory is that, descended from ancestors who for countless

generations had been in the habit of taking their food while

flying at no inconsiderable pace, they instinctively commenced

the action of closing the bill while the prey was still ahead of

them. In a few weeks’ time, however, this difficulty wore itself out

to a certain extent; but it occasionally re-appears when the birds

are nervous or in a bad light. The female, to this day, cannot

seize her food out of a dish except in a very good light; and,

when I hand them a cockroach, they more often than not seize

and endeavour to swallow my finger or thumb.


Not altogether unconnected with this feature (eye¬

focussing) is another point, concerning which I should like to

raise a question, and invite the criticism of our scientific

members. Extending backwards from the mouth there runs a

black band right across the eye and terminating in the ear-tufts.

Often as I have looked at the pictures of Bee-eaters, nothing in

connection with this black band has ever struck me, although I

have often wondered why so many species should have a similar

line, or a dark lore spot. But when I am having a little chat

with my Bee-eaters, and they, sitting side by side on a perch as

is their wont, and with but a few inches between us, are looking

me straight in the face, with .he crown flattened and the bill a

trifle raised, the line of the black bill, and the eye, and the black

band seem so closely connected that it is impossible not to feel

that the line, in some way, helps them while pursuing their prey

in the air, or saves their eyes from dazzling reflections. Probably

a brilliant African sun, if allowed to fall on a bright shining

lore, would have dazzled the eye, and might possibly have

affected the sight, or it might have reflected the light so as to

mar the true aim of the bird when in pursuit of it’s prey. The

dead-black lores, on the contrary, would not reflect, but rather

absorb, the brilliant rays, and may be something more than an

unspeakable comfort to the birds. Perhaps the birds look down

the black lines when taking aim as through a telescope or along

a gnu barrel! The projecting brows—or rather the deep-set

eyes—afford a further protection to the sight.


The Bee-eaters are verily birds of the sun. Not only do

they require a brilliant light to enable them to take their

ordinary food with comfort, but the Bee-eater in the sun-shine is

a different bird from the Bee-eater in the gloom. On a dull day,

they sit huddled together in a lump, afraid to move, taking their

food in fear and trembling—and an insufficiency of that—and



