MEEOPID^. 211 



migrates to the south of Europe in spring to breed, -which it does 

 in holes in banks, laving several white eggs; and it is said to line 

 its nest with the eljtrge and legs of beetles. Either this or the 

 previous species was observed by Burgess migrating in large 

 numbers, half way between Bombay and Aden, on the 8th or 9th 

 of May. Some of them were taken on board-ship. 



The only other Bee-eater from the East is M. badius from 

 Malacca: one species occurs in Australia, and there are many 

 in Africa. Some of these form a peculiar genus, Melittophagus, 

 distinguished by their short wings, and more or less emarginate 

 tail. 



Gen. Nyctioenis, Swainson. 



Syn. Bucia, Hodgson, postea Napopliila ; A Icemerops, Geoff. 



Char. — Bill moderately long, well curved, strong, compressed, 

 ridge flattened towards the base, with a parallel groove on each side ; 

 nostrils concealed by setaceous feathers ; wings moderate, full, roun- 

 ded, 4th quill longest; tail longish, nearly even; feet short, much as 

 in Merops, Plumage lax, soft and dense, with a plume of long stiff 

 pectoral feathers, differently coloured. 



This genus chiefly differs structurally from Merops in its shorter 

 and rounder wing. Two of the known species have finely colour- 

 ed elongated plumes on the throat and breast. The Indian one pos- 

 sesses a coscura 1 inch long, according to Hodgson It has also a 

 long tongue, slightly brushed at the tip. 



122. Nyctiornis Athertoni, Jaed. and Selby. 



Merops, apud J. and S., 111. Orn. I. 58— Blyth, Cat. 228— 

 HoESF., Cat. Ill — N. cceruleus, Swainson — M. amherstiana, 

 RoYLE — Bucia nipalensis, Hodgson— Merops cyanogularis, 

 Jeedon, Cat. 242 — Napopliila meropina, Hodgs. — Bukay CherUy 

 Nepal — Sangrok pho, Lepch. 



The Blue-necked Bee-eatee. 



Descr.-^ General colour bright vernal green, shaded on the 

 belly and vent with buff; forehead blue ; gular hackles rich ultra- 

 marine-blue, formed of a double series of long, drooping plumes, 

 ranf^cd opposite each other on either side of the median line ; lining 



