MEKOPID^. 209 



The Chesnut-headed Bee-eater. 



Descr. — Whole top of the head, nape, hind-neck, and upper part 

 of back, rich chesnut ; wing-coverts, interscapulars, and tertiaries, 

 bright green, the latter tinged with blue ; rump, and upper tail- 

 coverts pale azure blue ; quills dull green, tending to rufous on 

 the inner web, and black-tipped ; tail, with the centre feathers blue 

 on the outer web, all the rest dull green, tipped dusky ; tail even, 

 or slightly emarginate, with the centre feathers not elongated ; be- 

 neath, the chin, throat, and sides of the neck up to the ear- 

 coverts, pale yellow, below which is a band or collar of ferrugin- 

 ous, edged with black ; the breast bright green ; abdomen, vent, 

 and under tail-coverts the same, tinged with blue ; wings within 

 rufous-brown. 



Bill black ; legs and feet plumbeous ; irides fine crimson-red. 



Length 8-^ inches ; wing ^-^^ ; tail 3^, 1 inch beyond end of 

 wing ; bill at front 1^^ ; weight 12 dwt. 



This very beautiful Bee-eater, which is the type of the division 

 Urica, Bon., is only found in forest-country, and is most abundant 

 in elevated districts. It is found in the Llalabar forests, and 

 adjoining mountains. I have seen it on the Coonoor Ghaut of the 

 Neilgherries up to 5,500 feet of elevation ; and it is not uncommon 

 in the Wynaad and other elevated wooded districts. I never 

 saw it on the East coast, nor has it been sent from Central India. 

 Blyth says that it is not found in lower Bengal, and it is not 

 likely to occur in the North-western provinces. It extends, 

 however, to Arrakan, Tenasserim, and Malay ana. It pursues 

 insects from its perch on a lofty tree, and generally returns after 

 having captured one. It breeds in holes in banks generally, 

 but not always close to water. I found a nest on the road side on 

 the Coonoor Ghaut. It is stated to excavate a hole from 1 foot to 

 7 feet in depth, and to lay two to five eggs, white, as in others 

 of this genus. 



120. Merops ^gyptius, Forsk. 



HoKSF., Cat. 109— M. Pcrsicus, Pallas— Blytii, Cat 231— 



Dcscr. de T Eofvpte, 1 . pi. 4, f. 3 



2d 



