114 MEEOPID^E. 



and Central Asia. Within Indian limits this Bee-eater breeds in 

 Kashmir and probably in Afghanistan, and has been observed 

 when migrating in the N.W. Punjab, Baluchistan, and on one 

 occasion in Sind. 



Habits, Sfc. Those of the genus. This and other large Bee- 

 eaters keep more on the wing than M. viridis and feed on various 

 insects, chiefly bees and wasps. M. a/piaster breeds in Kashmir 

 during May and June, and lays 4 to 7 eggs (6 being a common 

 number) in a chamber at the end of a deep hole. The eggs are 

 white and glossy, and measure about 1-08 by -9. 



Genus MELITTOPHAGUS, Boie, 1828. 



This genus contains one Indian species, other kinds being 

 found throughout the Ethiopian region, whilst one, M. quinticolor, 

 inhabits Java. The only distinction from Merops is that the 

 middle pair of tail-feathers are no longer than the other 

 rectrices. Plumage and habits are similar to those of Merops, and 

 the two types are scarcely worth separating. 



1030. Melittophagus swinhoii. The Chestnut-headed See-eater. 



Merops erythrocephalus ?, Gm. Syst. Nat. i, p. 463 (1778) ; Blyth, 



Cat. p. 53 ; Blyth fy Wold. Birds Burma, p. 72. 

 Merops quinticolor, apud Horsf. fy M. Cat. p. 88 ; Jerdon, B. I. 



i, p. 208 ; Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 318 ; Godw.-Aust. J. A. 8. B. 



xxxix, pt. 2, p. 266 ; Holdsw. P. Z. S. 1872, p. 423 ; Jerdon, Ibis, 



1872, p. 3 ; Walden, Ibis, 1873, p. 301 ; Davidson, Jour. Bomb. 



N. H. Soc. Ti, p. 332 (nee F.). 

 Merops swinhoei, Hume, N. $ E. p. 102 (1873) ; id. S. F. ii, p. 163 ; 



vii, p. 455 ; xi, p. 42 ; id. Cat. no. 119 ; Ball, S. F. ii, p. 386 ; vii, 



p. 203 ; Fairb. S. F. iv, p. 254 ; Armstrong, ibid. p. 305 ; Legge, 



Birds Ceyl. p. 312; Parker, 8. F. ix, p. 478 ; Damson, 8. F. x, 



p. 350 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 95. 

 Merops leschenaultii, apud Fairb. S. F. v, p. 394; Anders. Yunnan 



Exped., Aves, p. 582 ; Hume 8f Dav. S. F. vi, p. 68 (nee F). 

 Melittophagus leschenaulti, apud Oates, B. B. ii, p. 68. 

 Melittophagus quinticolor, apud Dresser, Mon. Mer. p. 115, pi. xxvi ; 



Oates in Hume's N. fy E. 2nd ed. iii. p. 67. 

 Melittophagus swinhoii, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xvii, p. 55. 

 Kurumenne Kurulla, Pook-Kira, Cingalese. 



Coloration. Whole crown with the ear-coverts, hind neck, and 

 upper back chestnut ; lores and a narrow line running back under 

 the eye and ear-coverts black ; interscapulars, scapulars, and 

 outside of wings bright green ; quills the same, but (the tertiaries 

 excepted) with black tips and rufous inner margins ; rump and- 

 upper tail-coverts pale blue ; tail-feathers green above, all except 

 the median pair dusky on their margins and tips ; chin and 

 throat yellow ; a rufous-brown gorget joining the chestnut of the 

 upper surface, and bordered behind with black not extending to 

 the sides of the neck, but succeeded by an ill-defined yellow band ; 



