["9 3 



Genus XXVI. BEE-EATER. 

 N'ai. Coromandel B. E. 



Common Bee-eater, Gen, Sjn. ii. p. 667. N» I. r. 



Merops Apiafter, Fau^. Jrag. p. 73. +" COMMON 



B. Eg 



r'- 



'y HIS bird is no where more frequent than in the fouthern la- 

 titud-rs of RtiJJia ; chiefly about the Don, Wolga, and Jaick. 

 Some a/e met with about 'Toholfchi, on the Irtifch, though few or 

 none farther mSibiria. They are migratory, and firft feen about 

 Woronefchy and. neighbouring parts, about the. 24th o{ Aprils com- 

 ing in vaft flocks ; and make the neft in the clayey banks, which 

 they perforate obliquely, to the depth of half a foot ; the entrance 

 of the hole is large, but grows fmaller at the bottom ; and the 

 hills are in many places fo full of them, that they appear like a 

 honey-comb. The time of their departure into other countries is 

 about the month of September, being obferved by thoufands in 

 their flight fouthward*. Thefe birds are obferved to come to 

 Gibraltar in March, in fmall flocks, not exceeding three or four, 

 and feldom reft more than a few hours: their note is a little 

 •whifl:le, not unlike that of a Whiftlhtg Buck. When the fun ftiines 

 upon them in their flight, they are a pleafing objeiSt, as they ap- 

 pear gilded f . 



• See D(c, Ruffl i, p. lo-j ,—Ru£ia, vol. iv. p. 340, &c. \ Col. Davies, 



Indian 

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