AZURE-THROATED BEE-EA"xER.—NycUornis Athertdni. 



as the plumes of the throat. The general hue of the under surface is buff dashed with 

 green, and the under side of the wings and tail is dark buff without the green tinge. 

 The eyes are reddish-brown, and the beak is blue-grey. 



The sexes are very similar in colour, but the female is to be distinguished from her 

 mate by her inferior dimensions. The young birds are not so brilliant in their colours, 

 and they are devoid of the beautiful pendent plumage of the neck and throat. 



Theee is a very beautiful and closely-allied species to the above bird, namely, the 

 PiOSE-BEEASTED Nyctioenis, or Eed-faced Night-feedee {NTjctior7ns amicta), of which a 

 passing mention has already been made. This beautiful bird is a native of India, and is 

 supposed to feed chiefly by night, although the fact is not very clearly ascertained. In 

 the beauty and delicacy of the tints which stain its plumage, it may challenge comparison 

 even with the trogons themselves. The crown of the head is a fine lilac, and the face, 

 part of the throat, and tlie upper part of the breast, are a bright rose-carmine. The 

 remainder of the plumage is golden green. The total length rather exceeds one foot. 



The very handsome bird which is indifferently known by the name of Bullock's 

 Bee-eatee, and the Blue-bellied Bee-eatee, is an inhabitant of Western Africa, and 

 has been taken in Senegal. It is a truly beautiful creature, elegant in form and very 

 brilliant in colour. It is not a very large bird, being considerably smaller than the 

 common Bee-eater of Europe, and measuring only seven inches in total length, of which 

 the bill occupies one inch. 



