THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 421 



prised in this genus, which exclusively belongs to southern latitudes, 

 especially tropical Asia and Africa. Southern Europe possesses one 

 species, an example of which on one occasion has occurred in 

 Heligoland. 



In connection with this genus, I ought to mention Dresser's 

 Monograph of the Meropidce, a truly magnificent work, containing 

 thirty-four plates of most beautifully coloured life-size represen- 

 tations of these so wondrously beautiful birds. 



223. Bee-eater [BIENENJAGER]. 

 MEROPS APIASTER. 



Merops apiaster. Naumann, v. 462. 



Bee-Eater. Dresser, v. 155. 



Guepier vulgaire. Temminck, Mannel, i. 420, iii. 239. 



As stated above, this brilliantly plumaged bird has only been 

 observed here once, the example in question having been shot by 

 Reymers. In England the bird has occurred very frequently, even 

 in companies amounting, in some cases, up to twenty examples, as 

 many as twelve of these birds having been shot on one occasion in 

 the west of England (Rodd, Birds of Cornwall, p. 68). 



In the south of Spain the Bee-eater occurs very numerously 

 as a breeding species, and immense quantities of their eggs and 

 young are, according to Irby (Orn. of Straits of Gibraltar, pp. 

 65-67), destroyed annually by snakes and lizards. We have already 

 in another place explained in detail that in these instances we 

 must assume that individuals, the earlier stages of whose breeding 

 operations have been interfered with, resume the spring migration, 

 which has for its object the satisfaction of the breeding instinct, 

 and are thus carried far beyond their normal limits. Now, inas- 

 much as the line of migration of these birds in spring proceeds in 

 direction northwards from Africa to Spain, breeding birds which 

 have been disturbed in Spain in the manner indicated, cross the 

 Bay of Biscay, and reach Ireland and the western and other parts 

 of England, just as species from Greece and other south-eastern 

 countries the line of whose migration in spring runs to the north- 

 west manage to reach Germany and Heligoland. 



The nesting stations of this Bee-eater extend from Spain and 

 the north-west of Africa within the same parallels of latitude as 

 far as Farther India. It is said to have bred twice in the south of 

 Germany, and occurs now and again as far north as northern 

 Germany, while on one occasion it has been seen in Sweden, and 

 that actually within the confines of the Arctic Circle. 



