BEE-EATERS, ROLLERS, AND DRONGOS 145 



Hence they move off to somewhat higher and dryer 

 regions, and remain there until, with the colder 

 and dryer days of autumn, insect-food becomes 

 inconveniently scarce, and they are once again 

 driven back to milder and damper places. In the 

 rare cases in which they remain throughout the whole 

 year in their usual winter quarters, as a few pairs 

 sometimes do in the Botanic Garden at Shibpur, 

 the fact is connected with the protection from in- 

 undation afforded by the presence of pieces of ground 

 which have been artificially raised above the general 

 level of the country. 



During the rainy season the common bee-eaters 

 are replaced by their larger relatives, Merops 

 philippinus. 1 They make their appearance in great 

 flocks, and, along those parts of the railway-tracks 

 that are flanked by numerous water-holes, are 

 constantly to be seen in large numbers, seated in 

 rows along the telegraph-wires and making bold, 

 sweeping flights in pursuit of insects. As a rule, 

 they frequent places abounding in reaches of water, 

 but may sometimes be met with in gardens, where 

 they are very ornamental, owing to the beauty of 

 their flight. This is of the same character as that 

 of the green bee-eaters, but is on a much bolder 

 scale, and oftener varied by sudden towering ascents. 

 They are rather shy birds, and their bluish colouring, 

 although very fine, is hardly so attractive as the 

 green, gold, and bronze of the common species. 



1 They are about one-third larger than M. viridis. 

 K 



