BAM: ME ROPID Az Te 
The species belonging to this genus are gregarious like their allies, but not so much as 
the true Weropidae,; for they do not unite in such large flocks; looking out for prey they are 
sitting, as a rule, on the tops of lower bushes, sallying forth from there after flying insects. 
They are found in well-wooded plains, steppes or marshy localities, but some species, 
e. g. I. giularis, frequent dense forests, live in couples and seem to breed also in the holes of 
trees. Most of the species excavate their nest-holes in the banks of rivers. 
Geographical Distribution. The Indian Peninsula and Ceylon, the Burmese countries, 
Siam, Malay Peninsula and Java, and the whole of tropical Africa, which is the proper home 
of the genus. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES 
1. Outer aspect of quills fawn-colour ov chestnut, throat yellow or 
crimson ay 
— Outer aspect of Pee oreen, Teo giltoe OF GwNtte ys ba 5 ae wih, re ee see ee a hes tee ne ee eT 
2. Outer aspect of quills fawn-colour; lateral tail-feathers fawn- 
coloured, with a black band at the end; throat yellow, with a 
black or blue band across its lower portion ae 
— Outer aspect of quills chestnut or blackish brown, tail- sone 
black, throat crimson Q- 
3. Size larger, wing more than 82 mm.; band on lower throat 
Wine, mostly porno bondared) cnauorariy me WHA 5 5 6 6 6 60 € o 6 5 6 6 o 6 5 hbo 
— Size smaller, wing less than 82 mm.; band on lower throat ultra- 
marine-blue Fis 
4. Forehead green like the crown . De 
— Forehead blue, a broad and long cobalt-blue superciliary stripe, the 
throat-band bordered anteriorly with a broad blue edging . . M. PUSILLUS CYANOSTICTUS. 
5. Blue border to the throat-band absent or very narrow, the black ter- 
AUOUADATAOI ALIVE LAVA AY AOUUE Yuh toe Mi eas ese 3 Ge cok |) 1c cee ere 
— Blue border to the throat narrow, the black terminal bar of the tail ; 
broader, a distinct long azure-blue streak over the eye . . . MM. PUSILLUS MERIDIONALIS,. 
Guy co OcURCc CH nn ne ae ee we ee USTED USBECSTIETaUS. 
— A tuy azure-blue streak over or behind the eye . . . . . . MM. PUSILLUS OCULARIS. 
TEM OVE NEU CHECILLURCRENGKOWUI NEVE UICGRAUGIZOfNLIVENLADL 21AYV OWE), ates teens 
— Forehead and eyebyow blue, the black bar of the tail broader ; 
BHO OUI 5 ll NIL, ARINC ATIOS ILAIRRIENATTEN, 
8. A little blue over the eye, forming an indistinct eyebrow, the band on 
lower throat rich ultvamarine-blue, under parts lighter; size 
GU: “5 6 5 6 6 o 6 68 6 6 6 6 0 6 6 9 Wil, WARIEAIUS WAIIeAIUS, 
— A blue spot in front of, an indistinct blue streak over the eye, 
the band on lower throat bluish black, under parts darker ; 
qe lige) oo os & 6 0 « 6 0 © 56 56 0 6 Jl, WAMIBGAINS ORIOETIES, 
g. Central tail-feathers washed with ultvamarine-blue, crown of the 
head and breast ultvamarine-blue. ... . . . . . . [Mbrops MUELLERI Immat., see above. | 
— Central tail-feathers washed with bright blue, crown of the head 
halos lipoas: Wiaix, Sadat Cedp GURU, 5 6 on el Oe 
