THE LITTLE GREEN BEE-EATER 



Merops viridis 



The plumage throughout is green, with a black eye-stripe 

 and a black marking in front on chest ; legs brown, beak 

 black, eyes crimson, two centre tail-feathers very elongated. 

 Total length, 11 inches. 



THERE are three species of Bee-eaters, but this, the 

 Little Green Bee-eater, is chosen because it is 

 resident, and because it must be seen by every one 

 in Upper Egypt. The other two species are both 

 birds of passage through Egypt, and are seldom 

 seen or heard till April or May, when most people 

 have left. This bird is well called the Green Bee- 

 eater since it is green right over every part of its 

 upper plumage, but owing to the shading of parts 

 not in the full light of the sun it often appears as 

 if its head were of burnished gold, and again when 

 it flies, if the light be at all behind it, the trans- 

 parent outstretched wings look a brilliant orange 

 owing to the under-sides being of that rich warm 

 colour. In habits it will remind any observer 

 of our Fly-catchers at home, for it sits rather 

 humped up on a dead twig, wall, or post till, 

 suddenly observing some passing bee or fly, it 



54 



