320 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



feathers frequently elongated ; the tarsus is short, scaled in front and reti- 

 culated behind. The hind toe and claw is shorter than any of the fore 

 toes. 



This genus contains about twenty species, which are distributed in the 

 southern portions of the Palsearctic Region and the Ethiopian, Oriental, 

 and Australian Regions. One species is a common summer visitor to 

 Europe; but is only an accidental straggler to the British Islands, and 

 another occasionally wanders as far as South-east Europe. 



The Bee-eaters are birds of the plains, and feed almost exclusively on 

 insects, which they catch on the wing. They breed (like Sand-Martins) in 

 holes in banks, which they excavate themselves, making no nest, and lay 

 round, glossy, white eggs. 



