378 Lieut. H. R. Kelham on 



Merops philippinus, Linn. The Blue-tailed Bee-eater. 



Very common in Singapore during the north-east mon- 

 soon. 



Arriving in great numbers towards the end of September, 

 it keeps in flocks of from ten to twenty, and frequents low- 

 lying ground and wet paddy-fields, over wdiich it hawks for 

 insects, at one moment swooping down at a great pace close 

 to the ground, the next rising high into the air and sailing 

 along without a move of its wings ; when at rest it is generally 

 to be seen on some conspicuous isolated spot, such as the top 

 of a post or the highest branch of a dead tree. 



In Singapore I think I may put it doAvn as migratory ; for, 

 on reference to my notes, made daily, I can find no record of 

 its occurrence except during the wet season. 



On 17th October, 1879, they were very plentiful at Siran- 

 goon, Singapore. One I shot, measured 12 inches in length, 

 bill at front 1-^^ ^"^^^ ' ii'icles crimson, bill black ; upper parts 

 dull green, tinged on the head and tertiaries with pale blue ; 

 rump and upper tail-coverts beautiful light blue; tail dull 

 blue, two central feathers elongated ; chin pale yellow, throat 

 pale chestnut, abdomen pale green ; streak below eye black, 

 bordered below with light blue. The entire bird, with the 

 exception of the light-blue portions of its plumage, was most 

 beautifully glossed with a golden coppery tinge, giving it, 

 when in the sun, a brilliant burnished appearance. 



Nyctiornis amictus (Temm.). 



Certainly not a common bird, as I only once myself ob- 

 tained it, though I saw it in Malaccan collections ; then, being 

 new to me, I assigned it to the Meropidse, The following 

 extract is from my notes made at the time : — 



" Kwala Kangsar, Perak, 27th Feb. 1877. This morning 

 my native bird-catcher brought me two birds of most gaudy 

 colours ; he had snared them in the neighbourhood. From 

 their long curved beaks, brilliant plumage, and general 

 appearance I think they must belong to the Meropidee or 

 Bee-eaters ; anyhow, they are certainly related to them. 



"' These birds have a most peculiar and rather pleasant 

 aromatic scent about them.'^ 



