DICROCERCUS HIRUNDINACEUS. 101 
Mr. Andersson observes:—“This exquisite and diminutive species 
is common on the banks of the Rivers Okavango, Teoughe, and 
Botletlé, as well as on the Lake-watersheds in general, and also 
about Lake N’gami itself, but I have never observed it as far south 
as Damara Land proper. It seems to be partial to the immediate 
neighbourhood of the reedy banks of rivers, and of swamps and 
morasses ; and I have never found it at any distance from water.” 
Senor Anchieta has recently procured it on the Cunene River, and 
Mr. Monteiro met with it both in Benguela and Angola proper. 
The small size of this Bee-eater ought always to distinguish it, 
but it may be briefly described as of a green colour on the upper 
surface, with a yellowish brown breast: throat yellow with a blue 
line across the lower part, followed by a black patch and shading off 
into chesnut: bill and feet black: iris crimson in adults, dark hazel 
in young. Total length, only 6 inches; culmen, 1:0; wing, 3-0; 
tail, 2°5-; tarsus, 0°3. 
The young bird is, as in other species, much greener than the 
adult: there is no yellow on the throat, which is, however, of a 
light straw-brown, resembling the rest of the under surface, the 
breast being marked with green. 
Fig. Levaillant, Hist. Nat. Guepiers, pls. 7, 17. 
97. Dicrocercus HIRUNDINACEUS. Swallow-tailed Bee-eater. 
Merops hirundinaceus, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 70. 
Leyaillant found this species in abundance near the Orange River, 
and Mr. Ortlepp, who has forwarded specimens from Colesberg, 
writes :—“ I found, in June, several hawking over the trees on the 
banks of the Orange River. As the season was so far advanced I 
conclude that they are not migratory like their congener, M. apiaster, 
which they much resemble in habits, only they do not fly so high 
when in search of food.” Mr. Andersson observes :— This is the 
commonest species of Bee-eater in Damara Land, and it is also 
found in Great Namaqua Land and in the Lake country. Chiefly 
visits Damara Land during the wet season. I took a nest of this 
Bee-eater on the Omaruru River on the 31st of October. It was 
situated in a soft sandy bank, some three feet deep horizontally: the 
entrance was not above two fingers wide, but the hole was slightly 
enlarged where the nest was found. The latter, which had no lining, 
