134 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



and Cochin China ; it extends westwards into Assam, 

 Cachar, Sylhet and Tipperah, and even as far as Calcutta, 

 but from that place eastwards for a considerable distance 

 the birds are of mixed blood, for the two species interbreed 

 freely, in spite of the theories of those naturalists who 

 maintain that the distinctive markings of closely related 

 birds like this serve the purpose of preventing mesalliances. 

 Similar cases are those of the Goldfinches and Swallows, 

 which I have already mentioned, but no acquaintance 

 with such facts hampers the average Zoological theorist ! 



THE BEE-EATERS. 



Bee-eaters are birds of rather small size, with long 

 curved bills and very small feet ; there are three toes in 

 front joined together in a common skin, and one behind. 

 The wings are powerful, and the birds live on insects 

 captured in flight. The plumage is always very pretty ; 

 the cock and hen are alike in colour, and the young 

 closely resemble them. The Bee-eaters lay white eggs 

 in a burrow which they dig out themselves, many pairs 

 breeding in company. 



They are found in warm and temperate climates 

 in the Old World, and several kinds are to be seen in 

 India. Of these one is among the commonest birds in 

 the country. 



THE GREEN BEE-EATER (Merops viridis). This bird, 

 commonly called a Flycatcher by Europeans and known 

 in Hindustani as Patringa, and in Bengali as Banspati, 

 is conspicuous everywhere by its beautiful green plum- 

 mage and habit of sitting motionless on a perch and 



