86 BLACK-CROWNED BEE-EATER 



species dedicated to him; his name, therefore, Is 

 here adopted. 



Two specimens, now before us, establish the 

 fact that the two elongated tail-feathers is either a 

 sexual distinction, or a character of the adult plu- 

 mage ; in one of these all the tail-feathers are 

 perfectly even, while in the other the two middle 

 end in lanceolate points, extending two inches and 

 a half beyond the rest. 



The general plumage above, commencing from 

 the lower part of the neck, is grass-green, which 

 changes to blue slightly tinged with green on the 

 rump, tail-covers, tail and tertial quills; the nape 

 is fulvous, tinged with green, and the crown deep 

 black. On the front is a white band which passes 

 round on each side, and forms a broad stripe over 

 each eye. 



Total length, without the long tail-feathers, 8 

 inches ; bill, from the front, 1 ; wings, 3 T 2 ; tail- 

 feathers, from the base, 3* T % ; the middle pair 2| 

 beyond the rest. 



