MEROPIDiE. G9 



about August ; but from constantly living in tlie town, I am unable to 

 state anything with certainty of the migration of our periodical 

 visitants. 



It hawks after flies, uttering its cheerful, chirruping cry, and alight- 

 ing on the summit of the highest bush in its neighbourhood. It breeds 

 in the neighbourhood of NeVs Poort ; Mr. Henry Jackson having 

 found several nests in holes in banks. The eggs are pure white : 

 axis, 12'" ; diam., 10'". 



112. MeropS Savignii. (Swains.) Le Vaillant, 

 Guep., p. 6, 6. ; M. Superciliosus, Auctorum ; M. 

 Ruficollis, Vieil., Le Vail., Guep., t. 16. Swain., B, 

 of W. Af., PI. 7, Zool. 111., PI. 76. 



Green ; front whitish ; ears black ; stripe above and beneath 

 the eye, sky-blue ; chin yellow, passing into ehesnut ; crown 

 green ; wings and tail glossed with fulvous. Length (ex- 

 cluding two long tail-feathers), IQi''; wings, 5|"; tail, 3f"* 



Found in Natal by Mr. Ayres. A single specimen was also for- 

 warded to the Museum by T. B. Bayley, Esq., of Wynberg, having 

 been shot by that gentleman on the Cape Flats. Mr. Dumble- 

 ton, of "Wynberg, assures me that these birds periodically visit a cir- 

 cumscribed portion of the. Cape Flats in considerable numbers. 

 February 15th, 1866, a specimen was this day sent to the Museum 

 by Mr. Bishop, shot near Kuils Eiver. 



113. MeropS -ffigyptiUS, Forsk; M. Persica, 

 Pall ; Viridis, var. 7, et Superciliosus, var. ^, 

 Gmel ; M. Savignyi, Cuv. nee Sw. ; M. Superciliosus, 

 Licht., Le Vail., Guep. t. 10 ; M. Lamarkii, Vieil. ; 

 31. Viridissimus, Swain. 



General colour dark-green ; front yellowish-white ; fore- 

 head and eyebrows light-green ; eyeband black ; anterior 

 part of throat yellow, under part maroon ; tail olive-green ; 

 centre-feathers prolonged, and green-black. Length, 10^". 



•'Inhabits S. Africa."— Dr. A. Smith, non vidi. 



There seems to me great confusion between the names of this and 

 the preceding species. They are probably identical ; but as Mr. Gray 

 divides them, I follow his example, not having any means of forming 

 an opinion on the question. 



114. MeropS NubiCUS, Gmel., pi. Enl. 649 ; M. 

 Coeruleocephalus, Shaw, Nat. Miscel., PI. 78 ; Swain., 

 B. of W. Af., Vol. 2, PI. 9 ; M. Superhus, Penn. 



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 ; tail-feathers pointed with obscure 



