708 ]\Ir. W. L. Sclater on Birds collected 



North-Eastern Transvaal, and tlie Iiihambane, Beira, 

 Gorongoza, and Tete districts of rortuguese East Africa. 

 In liabits this little Bee-eater is somewhat dilTerent to the 

 other species; it is usually observed along the banks of 

 rivers and streams or low-lying swampy ground, where it 

 sits on the tops of the bushes and reeds, from which it darts 

 out on to its prev, coming back to its perch in a graceful 

 circle. In the Inhambane district I have seen it some 

 considerable distance from water, and I have found it sitting 

 in the bushes and stumps in native clearings and lauds. 

 The call is a sharp single note, not loud, and is often 

 uttered wlien disturbed, especially by pairs. It apparently 

 ])reeds from October onwai'ds, and I took the eggs and 

 young in the I'eira district in October and December 

 respfctivel3\ The nesting-hole is placed in a bank, often on 

 the railway, and runs in only about two feet in length, with 

 a slight upward tendency arid a cavity at the end. The 

 liole is usually run in straight. I liave seen it turned 

 at right angles at a few inches fi'om the entrance, but this 

 is generally due to the birds meeting with liard soil or roots. 

 The clutcb is ap])arently four, although three is often taken, 

 and both birds assist in incubation and feeding the young. 

 The food consists of insects, which are usually caught on 

 the wing. 



The soft parts of the adult are : — Trides crimson ; bill, 

 legs and toes black. In the young the irides are brown.] 



411. jMelittoph.vgus bullockoides. 



Tv. Legogot, Apl., May (5) ; P. Tete, Sept. (1). 



[This is distinctly a scarce Bee-eater. At Legogot it 

 was fairly common, going about in flocks of twenty or more 

 and generally hawking high up out of shot ; towards evening 

 these would congregate together, and with much calling and 

 circling at a great height go away towards the Legogot Moun- 

 tains, where they roosted on the ledges of the rocks or in 

 the deep dongas. In the Tete district only a pair or so wore 

 seen. The cry is somewhat sharper and shriller than that 

 of the other Bee-eaters. 



The soft parts are: — Irides hazel : bill, legs and toes black.] 



