76 



BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATEB. 



ORDER VII.— ALCYONES. 



Famihj MEROPID^. f Bonaparte.) 



Genus Merops. f Linnceus.J 



Generic Characters. — Beak middle sized, sharp edged, pointed, and slightly 

 curved, the summit elevated and entire. Nostrils, basal, lateral, ovoid, and 

 open, the opening hidden by having feathers directed forward. Feet with 

 the tarsus short; of the three toes in front the most external is united up 

 to the second articulation of the middle toe, and this with the internal up 

 to the first articulation; the hind toe broad at its base; claws — that of the 

 hind toe the smallest. Wings — the first primary very short, the second the 

 longest in the wing. 



BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER. 



Merops persica. 



Merops persica, 



" savignyi, 



" (Bgyptius, 



' ' rtificollis, 



' ' superciliosus, 

 Guepier Savigny, 

 Guepier me7'idmial, 

 Sudlicher Bieiienfresscr, 

 Bliie-cheeked Bee-eater, 



Pallas; Voy., 1776. 



CUVIER. SWAINSON. 

 FORSKAHLL. 

 ViEILLOT. 

 RtJPPELL. 



Le Vaillant. 

 Of the French. 

 Of the Germans, 

 swainson. 



Specific Characters. — Throat yellow; upper part of neck anteriorly, russet 

 red; upper plumage various shades of green; superciliary ridge and a band 

 below the eyes turquoise blue. The two middle tail feathers much longer 

 than the others. Length from tip of beak to end of long tail feathers 

 twelve inches; carpus to tip, five inches and three quarters; tarsus half an 

 inch; beak one inch and three quarters; tail six inches. 



