STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 269 



%n Mn. 



F this genus of birds there are several 

 species. They are all very beauti- 

 ful birds, inhabiting many parts of 

 Europe, Asia, and Africa. They feed 

 mostly on insects. Bees, wasps, and hor- 

 nets, furnish them with a dainty dish. The 

 boys in Candia catch these birds by fastening a 

 grasshopper to a hook, with a string attached 

 to it. The grasshopper is able to fly, and the 

 bee eater seizes it. But he finds himself caught 

 by the hook, and the boy takes him by pulling 

 in the long string. It is barbarous sport, do 

 you not think so ? 



The engraving represents a species found in 

 Southern Africa. A modern traveler says, 

 "The morning and evening are the times of 

 feeding. The note of the bird, well known 

 to African hunters, is then shrill. The latter 



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