BEE-EATER. 



October, 1832, in the Mull of Galloway; and Professor 

 Nilsson mentions that a male and female were killed in 

 Sweden in 1816. Montagu says, " It is nowhere so plen- 

 tiful as in the southern parts of Russia, particularly about 

 the rivers Don and Wolga, in the banks of which they 

 build their nests, perforating holes to the depth of half a 

 foot or more for that purpose. They are said to be grega- 

 rious, as well in the breeding season as in their migrations, 

 excavating the clayey banks so near to each other as to 

 appear like a honey-comb. In autumn they migrate in 

 large flocks to the more southern latitudes." These birds 

 line their nesting-holes with soft moss, and lay from five to 

 seven eggs, which are smooth, white, and shining, measur- 

 ing about one inch in length by ten lines and a half in 

 breadth. To follow the Bee-eater back to Africa by a 

 different route, I may mention that it visits the countries 

 between the Black and the Caspian Seas : the Zoological 

 Society have received specimens from Messrs. Dickson and 

 Ross, two zealous collectors at Erzeroum, who state that 

 these birds frequent that country from May till September ; 

 it is found also in Turkey, in Greece, and in Egypt. The 

 Bee-eater takes its food while on the wing, like the Swal- 

 lows, living chiefly on winged insects, and probably derives 

 its name from a partiality to those of the Hymenopterous 

 order. A traveller, speaking of the habits of the Bee-eater 

 in Asia Minor, says,* " They utter a rich warbling chirp 

 when on the wing ; they are often observed among the 

 turpentine firs, from which bees collect much honey, and 

 are sometimes attracted to the valleys by the numerous 

 apiaries of the peasantry." Montagu says that " in Egypt 

 it is called Melinoorghi, bees' enemy, and that the bird 

 itself is eaten as food. At the Cape of Good Hope it 

 is called Gnat-snapper, and serves as a guide to the Hot- 



* Annals of Nat. Hist., November, 1839. 

 VOL. II. Q 



