78 cassell's book of birds. 



The " Bee-wolves " inhabit the eastern coast of Africa, and are very numerous in some parts. 

 Heughn tells us that in Cordofania he constantly saw them perching on the backs of cattle, and from 

 tlience darting down to seize the grasshoppers disturbed by these involuntary assistants as they 

 wander over the plain. 



THE BRIDLED BEE-EATER. 



The Bridled Bee-eater {Coccolarynx frenaius), a species inhabiting the forests near the Blue 

 E.i\'er, possesses a delicate, thin beak, a moderate-sized, straight tail, and most glowing and variegated 

 plumage. The upper portions of the body are green, the under side is reddish brown ; the brow 

 green and blue intermixed ; the tliroat scarlet ; the belly, rump, and under tail-covers are bright blue ; 

 the black cheek-stripe, which passes across the eye, is bordered with blue ; the eye is bright red, and 

 the beak and foot black. The length of the body is eight inches ; the wing measures three inches 

 and one-third, and the tail three inches and a half. 



This elegant little bird is very numerous in Central Africa, where it is usually met with in large 

 parties, which rarely fly to any distance above the tree-tops in pursuit of their insect fare, and seize 

 their prey more after the manner of the Flycatchers than of the Swallows. According to our own 

 observations, these birds appear to remain for months together in the vicinity of their settlements of 

 nests. During the Christmas of 1850, whilst anchored in the Blue River, we found at least sixtj' of 

 the holes employed as nests by this species excavated in a clay bank on the shore ; the whole number 

 occupying a space not exceeding thirty-six square feet, and so close together that the entrances were 

 not more than five or six inches apart. The passages to the nest-holes were about an inch and a half 

 in diameter, and from three to four feet deep, terminating in a chamber from six to eight inches long, 

 by four or six broad, and two and a half to three inches high. AVe found neither building materials 

 nor eggs in these holes, although the birds were constantly creeping in and out of them. 



THE SWALLOW BEE-EATER. 

 The Swallow Bee-eater {MeTittophagiis hirundinaceus), another species inhabiting" Africa, 

 differs from the birds above described in the formation of its very deeply forked tail. The mantle is 

 glossy yellowish green, the lower part of the back and tail being of a somewhat deeper shade ; the 

 under side is light green ; the throat saffron yellow, and divided from the breast by a line of rich 

 ultramarine blue ; the vent and a line that passes from the nostrils over the eyes are deep blue ; the 

 cheek-stripes are black. The body of this species is eight inches and a quarter long; the wing 

 m^easures three inches and a half, and the tail four inches and one-sixth. Le Vaillant, who discovered 

 this beautiful bird in Southern Africa, tells us that it lives in pairs till after the period of incubation, 

 when old and young associate in small parties, previous to the season of migration ; they then 

 assemble in very large flocks. The nest resembles those of other Bee-eaters. The eggs, six or seven 

 in number, have a blueish-white shell. AVe also learn from Vaillant that this brilliant creature exhales 

 a very agreeable odour, resembling the perfume of a fragrant flower. 



THE AUSTRALIAN BEE-EATER. 

 The Australian Bee-eater {Cosmderops omatus) has the back, a line over the eye, and the 

 wng-coverts bro^vnish green ; the crown of the head and the nape orange ; the wings orange-brown, 

 shading into green at the extremity of the primaries, and tipped with black ; the lower part of the 

 back, the rump, and upper tail-covers are cerulean blue, and the tail black, most of its feathers edged 

 with blue ; the bridle and a line beneath and behind the eye and ear-coverts are velvety black, 

 beneath this is a line of light blue ; the throat is rich yellow, shading into orange at its sides ; below 



