42 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



at which time it travels in large l^ocks, but also during the breeding-season when 

 the steep banks of rivers or streams are filled with its burrows, much after the 

 manner of those formed b}' Sand-Martins. 



In their love of open country, manner of flight, and their fondness for perching 

 on telegraph wires, Bee-eaters much resemble Swifts and Swallows ; like these 

 birds they skim low over the herbage or sail high in air on buo3'ant wing, ever 

 and anon sweeping round in circles or stopping with hovering action to seize some 

 dancing insect which would otherwise evade their grasp. Nevertheless in some 

 respects the}' differ widel}' from these birds, with whom at times they consort, for 

 they not infrequently choose a favourite perch from which they make short sallies 

 after the fashion of a Flycatcher, seizing some passing insect and returning again 

 to the spot whence they started. Then also they do not disdain to snatch an 

 insect from a leaf, or even to hunt for beetles upon the earth. 



Strictl}' insectivorous, the Bee-eaters, favourite food appears to consist of bees 

 and wasps ; and so much havoc does it commit amongst the bee-hives in Spain, 

 that, as Lord Lilford informs us, " lads are often employed to shoot at and scare " 

 these birds away. Howard Saunders also states that " sacks full of birds are 

 taken * * by spreading a net over the face of an occupied bank, and pouring 

 water into a parallel trench cut at some distance back ; for the Bee-eater is hated 

 by the peasants, owing to the ravages inflicted upon their numerous hives, although 

 it also destro3's large numbers of wasps, locusts, grasshoppers, beetles, and other 

 insects." (Manual British Birds, p. 274). 



The time of nidification varies between April and June, according to the 

 countr}' in which it is breeding ; the bird forms its own burrow and has been said 

 to make a fresh one each year, but this is exceedingly' improbable ; it is far more 

 likely that, like the Sand-Martin, it lengthens its tunnel annually, until it has 

 gone as far as it is accustomed to excavate, and then commences a fresh one. 



Although the banks of rivers are favourite nesting sites, almost anj^ suitable 

 bank is likely to be occupied ; and, where these are not available, the Bee-eater 

 burrows straight down for a short distance in open sand}^ soil, then turning 

 abruptl}' forms a horizontal tunnel for two or three feet and finishes, as usual, in 

 an enlarged cavity for the reception of the eggs. These are generally from four to 

 six in number ; rarely as many as eight or nine ; they are pure white, glossy, and 

 rounded after the manner of eggs of Kingfishers. They are deposited upon cast- 

 ings and insect wings, no nest being formed. It is probable that only one brood 

 is reared in the year. 



It would, at first sight, seem next to impossible that a bird so purely insec- 

 tivorous as the Bee-eater could be kept for an}' length of time in confinement ; but 



