470 MEROPID^E. 



black, tipped with white, and the greater series black, barred across with white ; 

 primaries black, with a bar of white near the tip, the first with or without a white 

 spot on the inner web ; primary coverts black ; tertiaries brown, tinged and 

 edged with rufous ; back dull vinous ; scapulars barred with black and rufous ; 

 rump the same, followed by a transverse white band ; upper tail coverts black ; 

 tail black, with a white bar across the feathers ; chin, throat, breast and upper 

 abdomen rufous-fawn ; lower abdomen whitish, streaked with brown ; vent and 

 under tail coverts white, in some a few feathers are tipped with black. Bill 

 dark brown ; irides red brown ; legs plumbeous. 



Length. 1 2 inches ; tail 4-4 ; wing 3-6; tarsus 0-85; bill from gape 2'6. 

 In females the bill is smaller, about 2-3. 



Hal. British Burmah and the hill tracts of Eastern Bengal ; also China, 

 Siam, Cochin-China and the Malay Peninsula. Found in all the more dry 

 parts of the country, where it lives chiefly upon ants. Breeds in March and 

 April in holes of trees. Eggs, 3 6, pale blue in colour, varying in length 

 from ro6 to r2 inch, and in breadth from 0*63 to 0*75. 



1098. Upupa CeylonensisC^z'^.), Jerd., Suppl. vol.ii. ; Hume, 

 Sir. F. iii. p. 90; vii. p. 517. Upupa nigripennis (Gould), Jerd., B. Ind. ii. 

 p. 392, No. 255; Hume, Nests and Eggs Ind. B. p. 163. The INDIAN 

 HOOPOE. 



Similar to the last, but smaller. 



Length. iO' 5 against 12 inches ; tail 4 ; wing 3 to 3*5; bill from gape 

 2*2. No white on crest, nor are there any whits spots on the first primary. 



Hob. Southern India and Ceylon, also a part of Central India, the Punjab, 

 and N.-W. Provinces. Breeds from February to May. Nidification same as 

 last; eggs rather smaller. 



According to Jerdon it frequents groves of trees, thin forest jungle, gardens, 

 and the neighbourhood of villages and old deserted buildings. Like the other 

 species of the genus, it feeds on the ground on insects, grubs, and larvae. It 

 usually has its crest depressed when feeding, and on the slightest disturbance, 

 erects it. It has an undulatory but vigorous flight. 



Family MEROPID^ BEE-EATERS. 



Bill long ; both mandibles curved and sharp ; nostrils partly hidden by short 

 bristles ; wings long and pointed ; tail long and broad ; central feathers gene- 

 rally elongated ; tarsi short ; toes long, two exterior united to middle ; hind 

 toe with a pad beneath. 



Gen. Merops. Linn. 



Second quill longest ; tail with two middle feathers elongated ; tarsi scaled ; 

 outer toe longer than inner ; wings reaching to two-thirds the length of tail. 



