THE BEE-EATERS. 



461 



prey either on the wing, like the swallows, or secrete themselves at the 

 entrance to a hive, and catch the inmates that enter or depart, whose 

 stings they are skilful in avoiding. Living together in numerous 

 flocks, they rapidly clear a district of wasps and bees. 



They build their nests in the banks of rivers or rivulets, in holes 

 which they excavate to the depth of six or seven feet. Some species 

 are highly esteemed as table delicacies by the French. 



The Bee-eaters inhabit the warmer regions of the Old World, 

 such as Bengal, the west coast of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, 



Fig. 183. Brazilian Motmot. 



Morocco, Malta. One species alone is found in Europe, the 

 Common Bee-eater (Merops apiaster, Fig. 182). From the coast of 

 Africa it migrates in small flocks into the countries skirting the 

 northern shores of the Mediterranean. Some individuals proceed 

 into France, Switzerland, and Germany; others spread themselves 

 over Turkey and the southern parts of Russia. In England it is 

 occasionally met with in Cornwall, Devonshire, and along the 

 Hampshire coast. It has been shot in the Mull of Galloway. In 

 France it arrives in the month of May, and remains but a short 

 time. As a rule it rarely ventures further north than the south of 

 France. 



The Motmots (Momotus) are birds still very imperfectly known- 



