— '47 — 



Melittophagus gularis gularis. 



Merops giilaiis Shaw, Nodd, Nat. Mise, IX, 1798, pi. 337. 

 — Tvpe localitv : Sierra Leone. 



Two spécimens of the tvpical Crimson-throated Bee-eater were 

 seciired bv Lowi-: at Iju water works, Lagos, in January and 

 Februarv, 1920. Tlie blue evebrow-streak is very pronoimced in 

 both spécimens. 



From Northern Nigeria \ve bave two examples from Lokoja 

 (C. Bryant). 



I bave discussed the advisabilitv of « keeping up » Reichenow's 

 namefor the southern lorm in niv report onBATEs'Cameroon collec- 

 tion {Ibis, 1921, p. 103). I consider that both fornis should be kept 

 distinct despite the variation ot the evebrow-stripe shown inGaboon 

 spécimens. 



We sball therefore bave : 



r. — Melittophagus guearis gularis. 



Range. — Sierra Leone, Libéria, Gold Coast, N. and S. Nigeria. 



Distinguishing characters. — Broad eyeorow-streak, belly, 

 under tail-coverts and rump cobalt-blue; throat red, vvings chest- 

 nut; rest of bodv blackish; breast streaked with cobalt. 



2. — Melittophagus gularis australis . 



Meropiscus gularis australis RcHW., J. f. O., 1885, p. 222. — 

 Tvpe localitv : Gaboon and Cameroon. 



Range. — Gaboon, Cameroon, Belgian Congo, N. Angola. 



Distiiiguishing characters. — Lacks the wide blue eyebrovv- 

 streak (variable in Gaboon spécimens); feathers of the breast strea- 

 ked intermittentlv with red. 



(A rather uncommon bird in this district. — W. F. L.) 



