METIOPID^E. 115 



World, those members of it which are accounted British, 

 being known in this country only as accidental stragglers. 



THE COMMON BEE-EATER. Her ops apiaster. This bird 

 has been in some instances seen and killed in the British 

 Islands. In Europe it is said to be common in Spain, 

 Sicily, Greece, and Turkey. In Southern Africa it is also 

 frequent. Excepting during the breeding season, it is said 

 to assemble in troops ; but this may be, as remarked by Sir 

 William Jardine, preparatory to migration. On one occa- 

 sion no fewer than twenty appeared in Norfolk. Their 

 flight somewhat resembles that of the Swallow, but is more 

 direct and less rapid. The colours of the plumage are very 

 splendid. They breed in deep holes excavated in the banks 

 of rivers, at the extremity of which, in a nest of moss and 

 soft materials, are deposited from five to seven eggs, of pure 

 white. 



THE EUROPEAN KOLLER. Coracias garrula* This is 

 another of our accidental visitors, but it has been several 

 times killed in this country. On the European continent 

 it is very extensively distributed. It is described as being 

 wild, shy, restless, and fierce, and frequenting by preference 

 deep forests of oak and birch. It is brilliant in colouring, 

 and its length is about thirteen inches. It forms its nest 



