i8i8 THE PIC ART AN BIRDS 



tailed bee-eaters {Dichrocercus) and square-tailed bee-eaters {Melittophagus} are con- 

 fined to Africa, while the true bee-eaters (Merofis) inhabit all the four great 

 continents of the Old World. As a rule, the bee-eaters lay glossy white eggs in a 

 nest situate at the end of a long tunnel excavated by the birds themselves, although 

 the two species of Nyctiornis are stated to nest in trees. 



Distinguished by the absence of a tuft on the breast and the forked 



Swa ow- swallow-like tail, in which the central feathers lack the elongation 

 Tailed Bee- 

 Eaters characterizing the other members of the family, the African swallow- 

 tailed bee-eaters {Dichrocercus) are represented by two species, one 

 of which (D.furcatus) comes from the western side of the continent, while the other 

 (D. hirundineiis) is a southern form. The latter is distinguished by having the fore- 

 head and eyebrow of the same green hue as the rest of the head, instead of being 

 blue; while the general color of the upper parts is golden green; the wings being 

 green, and their primary quills light chestnut with black tips, forming a terminal 

 band to the wing feathers; the upper tail coverts and the central tail feathers are 

 blue, the remainder golden olive tipped with white, before which is a shade of 

 black; a black streak runs along the sides of the head; the cheeks and throat are 

 orange yellow, followed by a black band; the breast is green; the abdomen and 

 under tail coverts blue; the bill black; the feet dusky gray, and the iris crimson. 

 The whole length is eight and five-tenths, that of the wing being three and ninety- 

 five-hundredths, and that of the tail four inches. The sexes are alike in color. 

 This bee-eater inhabits the Cape Colony and South Africa generally, extending on 

 the east as far north as the Zanzibar region, and on the west to Damaraland and 

 Benguela. In habits this species is like the other bee-eaters, hawking for food in 

 the open, and capturing insects in full flight. It seems, however, to fly at a lesser 

 altitude than some of its larger relations, and nests in sandy banks, making a tun- 

 nel of about three feet in length, the entrance to the tunnel being very small, not 

 more than two inches wide, but' opening out into a slightly-wider chamber at 

 the end. 



The square-tailed bee-eaters {Melittophagus) are all of small size, 

 _ p measuring only from six to nine inches in length, and mostly confined 

 to Africa, although two species range into India and the countries 

 east of the Bay of Bengal as far as Java. Thirteen in number, these bee-eaters are 

 easily recognized by their square tails; their general coloration being of the peculiar 

 green hue common to the group, although with considerable contrasts of blue and 

 yellow, some also having a black band on the throat. While the African species 

 frequents water courses, the little bee-eater (M. pusillui) prefers reedy marshes and 

 swamps, where it perches on low bushes and trees. On the other hand, the white- 

 fronted species ( M. albifrons} selects higher trees in the neighborhood of water. A 

 well-known member of the genus is the chestnut-headed bee-eater (M. swinheoi), in 

 which the lower back and upper tail coverts are silvery blue; the primary quills 

 having their inner surface rufous, with a blue bar at the end ; while the tail is green- 

 ish blue; the head and mantle chestnut; the throat yellow, with a black band infe- 

 riorly; the under surface of the body emerald green; the breast and flanks marked 

 -with yellow, and the abdomen and under tail coverts blue. This pretty species is 



