368 



BLUE-HEADED BEE-EATER. 



Merops caerulocephalus. M. ruber, capite vropygioque beryllinis, 



caufla suhcequali. 

 Red Bee-Eater, with beryl-blue head and rump, and nearly even 



tail. 

 Merops caerulocephalus. M. ruber, capite gula uropygioque cceru* 



leo-viridibus, cauda subfoijicata. Lath. ind. orn. 

 Le Guepier rouge a tete bleue. Bvf. ois. PL Enl. 64Q. 

 Blue-headed Bee-Eater. Lath. syn. 



DESCRIBED by Buffon, and figured in the 

 Planches Enluminees : size rather less than that 

 of the Common Bee-Eater : colour of the upper 

 parts fine rufous, deepest on the wing-coverts and 

 tail : under parts pale crimson : head and throat 

 beryl-blue, deepest on the throat : rump and upper 

 tail-coverts of the same colour : the middle quill- 

 feathers edged with blue ; the larger ones brown 

 towards the tips : tail nearly even, or very slightly 

 subfurcated ; the feathers edged with blue-green : 

 bill black : legs ash-colour. Native of Nubia, and 

 described by BufFon or Montbeillard from a draw- 

 ing or specimen communicated by Mr. Bruce. 



