186 THE COMMON BEE-EATER. 



one at the other end of the order ; but their mode of feeding 

 distinguishes them, the Fissirostres using their bill alone, 

 while the typical Tenuirostral birds use their tongue. Their 

 food is also different, the one tribe feeding chiefly on insects, 

 the other on vegetable juices and fruits. The families which 

 compose the Fissirostres are (usually five) distinguished by the 

 very simple scientific names of the Meropiche, Hirundinidm, 

 Caprimulgidce, Trogonidcn, and Halcijonidce. Of these, the 

 Hirundinidce and Caprimulgidce are the typical groups. 



Family I. 



Meropidce. 



The members of this family are chiefly natives of warm 

 climates, and are noted for their beauty of plumage, comprising 

 all shades of green, blue, yellow, and rich brown. They have full 

 development of wings and tail, and are birds of active and power- 

 ful flight, obtaining all their food on the wing. Those which 

 feed during twilight and night have the wings shorter and 

 rounded. Of this family, only two have been found as O.V. in 

 Britain, and none, to my knowledge, near St Andrews. These 

 two are the bee-eater and the garrulous roller. 



The Common Bee-Eater. 



(Merops Apiaster.) Linn. 



" And therefore as a stranger give it welcome." — Hamlet. 



As its name implies, this bird lives chiefly on bees, which it 

 captures on the wing like the swift or the swallow. Its bright 

 yellow throat, long black bill, and gaudy feathers proclaim it a 

 stranger, not only to St Andrews, but to Britain. "Were it not 

 for its long bill one would wonder (from its very diminutive 

 legs and feet) how it could penetrate so far into the bank of a 

 river, to lay its five or seven round white eggs. It is 11 inches 

 long to the end of tail. The general colour is greenish blue, 

 yellow and brown ; the iris red. It abounds in the south of 

 Russia, and in autumn, in large flocks, departs for more 

 southern latitudes, steering clear of old St Andrews ; so I need 

 not follow it further, but speak of the other rare visitor. 



