B E E - E A T E R, 66; 



method of forming the neflr, it imitates the Kingsfijher, making 

 jt in holes in the banks of rivers ; and it feems to be much allied 

 to this bird;, differing only in food, It is faid to be particularly 

 fond of wafps and bees, whence the name. I do not find that 

 birds of this genus have any note beyond a whiftle *, and that far 

 from agreeable. 



Merops Apiafter, tin- Syjl. i. p. 183. N* I. — Muj. Adolpk, \u p. 2i.~» j. 



Scop, ann, i. p. 54.'n q 6 3 ." +- COMMON 



Le Gueipier, Sri/, on. iv. p. 53s. N° t'., BEE-EATER. 



Le Guepier, Buf, oi/. vi. p. 480, pi, 33. — PI. ml- 93S. 

 Le Guepier, Fertnin De/cr. de Surinam, n. p, 184? 



Merops Galilsus, Hajfily. Itin. p. 247. N° z^.^-Faun. Arab, p. !. N° 3. 

 Jfpida cauda rnolli, Kramer el, 337. f 

 Merops, five Apiafter, Rait Sjn. p. 49. N° 3. 

 T ( he Bee»eater 3 Will. urn. p. 147. pi. 34. — Albin. ii. pi. 44. 

 Br. Ma/, lev. Mu/ 



HIS bird meafures, from bill to tail, ten inches. The bil Description. 



an inch and three quarters in length, and black; the bafe of 

 the upper mandible covered with dirty white feathers : the irides 

 are red : the forehead is of a blue green colour, behind it green : 

 the top of the head cheftnut, tinged with green ; hind head and 

 upper part of the neck cheftnut, growing paler towards the back : 

 from the bill to the hind head is a black ftripe, paffing through 

 the eyes : the back and fcapujars are of a very pale yellow, tinged 

 with both cheftnut and green 1 rump and upper tail coverts blue 



* Hijl- ties 01/ vi. p. 484. 



f It muft be remarked here, that Kramer does not mean our Kingi/Jber, either 

 ■fsom his defcriptions or fynonyms. 



4 0^2 green, 



