Birds. 319 



* With the middle tail feathers elongated. 



Merops Apiaster, Lin. Throat yellow, margined behind 

 with black ; front greenish white ; occiput, back of neck, and 

 interscapulars, maronne ; back, rufous-yellow; middle of wings 

 dark rufous ; quill feathers and tail, olive-green ; ocular band 

 black ; breast and belly, bluish green. Bill black ; eyes red ; 

 feet brown. The two middle tail feathers an inch longer than 

 the others. Length from bill to point of tail eleven inches. 



Young. Above brown-green ; eyebrows rufous ; no black 

 collar ; tail feathers all of equal length. 



Inhabits Africa and Europe, during the summer in South 

 Africa. 



Merops Malimbicus, Shaw. Head and neck slate- grey ; chin 

 white, passing in the form of a streak on each side of the 

 throat ; upper parts of body, wings, and tail, vinaceous ash- 

 colour ; quill feathers blackish brown ; eye band blackish 

 brown. Lower part of throat, breast, belly, and thighs, a fine 

 deep or sanguine rose-colour, palest towards the vent. The 

 two middle tail feathers about an inch and a half longer than 

 the others, and terminate in narrow points. Bill and legs 

 black ; eyes red. Length about ten inches. 



Inhabits Malimba. 



Merops bicolor, Daud. 



Merops Nubicus, Lin. Head and throat sea-green, the latter 

 margined below with black; eye band black; neck, back, 

 breast, and belly, bright red ; wings and tail a dull red ; quill 

 feathers black at the tips, clouded with green ; scapulars green- 

 brown ; tail feathers pointed with obscure green, the two centre 

 ones much longer than the others, narrow towards the points, 

 and of a blue-black colour ; rump, vent, and under tail coverts, 

 light blue. Bill black. Length from bill to point of middle 

 tail feathers eleven inches and a half. 



Inhabits Africa, rare in South Africa. 



Merops cseruleocephalus, Shaw. 



Merops jEgyptius, Savig. Front yellowish white ; forehead 

 and eyebrows light green; top of head, neck, back, shoulders, 

 breast, belly, and vent, dark green; eye band black, edged be- 

 low by light green ; anterior part of throat yellow, hinder part 

 maronne ; outer vanes of wing feathers olive-green, inner vanes 

 dark dusky green, all tipt with black ; tail feathers olive-green, 

 the two centre ones about two inches longer than the others, 

 narrow towards points, and green-black. Bill black ; legs and 

 toes brown. Length ten inches and a half. 



Inhabits South Africa. 



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