Birds. 319 
* With the middle tail feathers elongated. 
Merops Apiaster, Lin. Throat yellow, margined behind 
with black; front greenish white; occiput, back of neck, and 
interscapulars, maronne; back, rufous-yellow; middle of wings 
dark rufous ; quill feathers and tail, olive-green; ocular band 
black ; breast and belly, bluish green. Biull black ; eyes red; 
feet brown. The two middle tail feathers an inch longer than 
the others. Length from bill to point of tail eleven inches. 
Young.—Above brown-green ; eyebrows rufous; no black 
collar; tail feathers all of equal length. 
Inhabits Africa and Hurope,—during the summer in South 
Africa. 
Merops Malimbicus, Shaw. Head and neck slate-grey ; chin 
white, passing in the form of a streak on each side of the 
throat; upper parts of body, wings, and tail, vinaceous ash- 
colour; quill feathers blackish brown; eye band blackish 
brown. Lower part of throat, breast, belly, and thighs, a fine 
deep or sanguine rose-colour, palest towards the vent. The 
two middle tail feathers about an inch and a half longer than 
the others, and terminate in narrow points. Bill and legs 
black; eyes red. Length about ten inches. 
Inhabits Malimba. 
Merops bicolor, Daud. 
Merops Nubicus, Lin. Head and throat sea-green, the latter 
margined below with black; eye band black; neck, back, 
breast, and belly, bright red ; wings and tail a dull red ; quill 
feathers black at the tips, clouded with green ; scapulars green- 
brown ; tail feathers pointed with obscure green, the two centre 
ones much longer than the others, narrow towards the points, 
and of a blue-black colour ; rump, vent, and under tail coverts, 
light blue. Bill black. Length from bill to point of middle 
tail feathers eleven inches and a half. 
Inhabits Africa,—rare in South Africa. 
Merops ceruleocephalus, Shaw. 
Merops Agyptius, Savig. Front yellowish white; forehead 
and eyebrows light green; top of head, neck, back, shoulders, 
breast, belly, and vent, dark green; eye band black, edged be- 
low by light green ; anterior part of throat yellow, hinder part 
maronne; outer vanes of wing feathers olive-green, inner vanes 
dark dusky green, all tipt with black; tail feathers olive-green, 
the two centre ones about two inches longer than the others, 
narrow towards points, and green-black. Bill black ; legs and 
toes brown. Length ten inches and a half. 
Inhabits South Africa. 
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