BEE-EATER 



YELLOW-THROATED BEE-EATERCOMMON BEE-EATER 

 GNAT-SNAPPER. 



PLATE XLI. FIGURE I. 

 Merops apiaster, LINN^US. 



THE Bee-eater, of which some thirty examples only have 

 been captured in Britain, is a summer visitant to the 

 south of Europe. 



The nest is placed in holes in banks, which latter are 

 thus, as is only to be expected in the case of a Bee-eater, 

 completely "honey-combed." The bird scoops out a hole by 

 means of its bill and feet, to the depth of from one to two 

 or even three yards, sufficiently large to admit its body, 

 and as its legs are short, a wide orifice is not required ; 

 this passage is widened out at the end into a receptacle for 

 the nests, which are laid on the bare earth. 



The eggs, which are hatched in May, are glossy white, 

 of a globular form, and from five to six or seven in 

 number. 



9-' 



