THE COMMON BEE-EATER. 



187 



tisliei's, and in its attitudes it has 

 a great air of those birds. Like 

 them, it poises itself upon a branch 

 and darts down to secure its active 

 prey in its bill, but differs from 

 them in the fact that it feeds 

 ahnost exclusively upon insects, 

 and knows not how to snatch 

 from the stream the scaly inha- 

 bitants of the waters. 



In its colouring this bird very 

 closely resembles the green Jaca- 

 mar, which has already been de- 

 scribed, but does not possess quite 

 so much of the green hue. 



BEE-EATEES. 



GREAT JACAMAR. — Jticdmcr(>ps grandis. 



The Bee-eaters may at once 

 be distinguished from the jaca- 

 mars by the shape of the bill, 

 which, although somewhat similar 

 in general shape to the beak of 

 those birds, is curved instead of 

 straight, and by the formation of 

 the wings, which, instead of being 

 short and rounded, are long and 

 pointed, and give to their owners 

 a wonderful command of the air, 

 while engaged in chasing their 

 winged prey. Some short bristles 

 overhang the nostrils, and the 

 long and broad tail has generally 

 the two outer feathers longer 

 than the others. Their plumage 

 is remarkably handsome ; being 

 painted with rich and at the 



same time with extremely delicate hues of many colours. Green predominates throughout 

 the group, a verditer-blue seeming to be generally mixed with the green. Some species, 

 such as the Nubian Bee-eater (Merops Nubius), are clothed in bright red ; while others, 

 such as the Eose-breasted Night-feeder {Xi/ctiornis Amicta), are decora^'^d with a rich rose 

 tint upon the face and breast. 



The common Bee-eatee of Europe is very frequently found in > ' 

 Continent, and has been several times taken in England. It is, howev..., ^ . n. 



Great Britain, and is of sufficient rarity to excite some curiosity whenever it is iound 

 within tlie confines of our shores. 



In Mr. Yarrell's well-known work on the British birds, there is a most elaborate 

 enumeration of the specimens which had been shot in various parts of England ; getting 

 shot being a fate that inevitably befalls any rare or strange bird that may happen to \'isit 

 this country. Even a stray parrot runs a great risk if it should escape into the niral 

 districts, as can be unwillingly testified by many a sorrowing and bereaved parrot-owner. 

 So far does this cruel and abominable custom go, that I have known a paroquet to be 



