LITTLE FORK-TAILED BEE-EATER. 89 



original name, not absolutely objectionable, we retain 

 that of Dr. Latham, although pmilla would at 

 once have indicated its greatest peculiarity, namely, 

 its diminutive size. 



This little Bee- eater was first brought from Senegal 

 by the celebrated botanist and traveller Adanson, 

 and communicated to Buffon, who in his loose man- 

 ner described it as the Petit Guepier du Senegal, 

 under which name Ave find it figured on the 318th 

 plate of the Planches Enluminees, yet so badly, that 

 did we rest upon these materials only for determining 

 the species before us, we should consider this as a 

 totally different bird. Dr. Latham, however, al- 

 though his figure is equally defective, supplies its 

 inaccuracy by a tolerably good description, having 

 noticed the rich and elegant spot on the throat, 

 which is altogether omitted in the two figures above 

 mentioned. To this elucidation of its scientific his- 

 tory, we can add but little regarding its manners. 

 It seems to be a common species on the western side 

 of Africa, and appears to extend to Abyssinia ; it is 

 not known, however, at the Cape of Good Hope ; at 

 least we have never seen specimens from the south- 

 ern parts of Africa. 



The total length of the adult bird is not more 

 than six inches. The whole of the upper plumage, 

 excepting the primary and secondary quills, and 

 the lateral tail-feathers, is of that peculiar glossy 

 changeable green, which is so prevalent in this genus, 

 appearing in some lights yellowish, and in others 

 bluish; a black ocular stripe extends to the ear- 



