THE BEE-EATER. 239 



and the roller, they have finer plumage than any British 

 birds ; and in texture theirs is superior to the others, and 

 the reflections on the blues and greens are perfectly unique.* 



* There is no such order as Alcyones recognised by ornithologists. 

 The kingfishers constitute a family termed by Mr. Vigors Halcyonidce, 

 and by Bonaparte Alcedinidce. The bee-eater is the type of the family 

 Meropidce: both families are under the order Insessores, or Passeres, 

 and of the tribe Fissirostres (Cuvier).- M. 



