THE AZURE-THROATED BEE-EATER. 



191 



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It is not a very large bird, but is remark- 

 ably slim and elegant in its form, appearing 

 as if it were possessed of very great activity. 

 The colours of its plumage, although not so 

 brilliant as those of other Bee-eaters, are yet 

 soft and fine, and very pleasing in their 

 general effect. The general colour of this 

 bird is a very dark green upon the upper 

 surface, so deep as to approach nearly to 

 black in a dim light, and the upper surface 

 of the tail is a deep blue-green. Under each 

 eye is a small black patch. The chin is 

 white, and the under surface of the tail and 

 the tail-coverts are greyish brown. 



THE truly magnificent AZTTKE-THEOATED 

 BEE-EATEE is an inhabitant of India, and is 

 found, although very rarely, in the interior 

 of that country. 



It is a very rare bird, perhaps not so 

 much on account of the actual paucity of its 

 numbers, as from its extreme shyness, and 

 the nature of the localities where it makes 

 its residence. The home of this bird is 

 always in the deepest recesses of the vast 

 Indian forests, and in spite of its glowing 

 colours and noisy tongue, it is so wary and 

 fearful of man that it is seldom seen. When 

 fairly discovered, however, it often falls an 

 easy prey to the native hunter on account of 

 the extreme nervousness of its nature. The 

 report of a gun in close proximity will have 

 such an effect upon its nervous system as to 

 afflict it with a momentary paralysis, and it 

 sometimes happens that in the great hunting 

 expeditions of the native chiefs, this Bee- 

 eater is so stupified by the unwonted turmoil, and repeated explosion of fire-arms, that 

 it lies helplessly on the branch, and permits itself to be taken by hand. 



The manners of the Azure-throated Bee-eater are particularly quiet, and during the 

 daytime it is seldom to be seen in motion. At the approach of night, however, it 

 becomes very active, and utters its peculiar short grating cry in rapid succession. The 

 generic name, Nyctiornis, or Night-bird, has been given to this Bee-eater because it is 

 supposed to feed mostly by night. Mr. Gould, however, doubts the accuracy of this 

 theory, and the appropriateness of the title. The food of this species consists of various 

 insects, such as bees, wasps, and other similar creatures. It seems, however, to feed 

 mostly upon beetles, preferring those which belong to the Geotrupidse, such as the 

 chaffers and scarabsei, probably on account of their slow wheeling flight, which renders 

 them an easy capture, and their solid fat bodies, which insure a plentiful meal attended 

 with very little trouble. 



It is but a solitary bird, seldom being seen even in company with its mate, and never 

 associating in flocks like the Bee-eaters of Europe. 



In plumage the Azure-throated Bee-eater is a really splendid bird, and is chiefly 

 remarkable for the long soft azure feathers which hang from the throat and neck, like the 

 nuchal mane of many antelopes. The top of its head is bright scarlet and blue, and 

 the whole of the upper surface a brilliant green. The pendent feathers of the throat are 

 verditer-blue, and those of the neck are bluish-green, edged with the same verditer-blue 



CHESTNUT BEE-EATER Meropg bddvus. 



