155 



MEKOPS APIASTER 



(COMMON BEE-EATER.) 



Apiaster, Briss. Orn. iv. p. 532 (1760). 



Apiaster icteroeephalos, Briss. Orn. iv. p. 537 (1760). 



Merops apiaster, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 182 (1766). 



Le Guepier, Montb. Hist. Nat. Ois. vi. p. 480, pi. xxiii. (1779). 



Guepier a tStejaune, Mont. Hist. Nat. Ois. vi. p. 510 (1779). 



Grand guSpier vert et bleu a gorge jaune, Montb. Hist. Nat. Ois. vi. p. 502 (1779). 



Merops congener, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. p. 461 (1788). 



Merops chrysocephalus, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. p. 463 (1788). 



Merops hungarice, C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 146 (1831). 



Merops elegans, C. L. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 50 (1855). 



Guepier vulgaire, French ; Abelharuco, Melharuco, Portuguese ; Abejaruco, Spanish ; 

 Gruceione, Italian ; Kirt-el-nahal, Maltese ; Schegagh, Arabic ; el Leeamoon, Moorish ; 

 europdischer Bienenfresser, German ; Bleeder, Danish ; Bidtare, Swedish ; Tschur, 

 Russian. 



Figurce notabiles. 



D'Aubenton, PL Enl. 938 ; Werner, Atlas, Alcyons, pi. 1 ; Kjserb. Orn. Dan. taf. 13 ; Frisch, 

 Vog. Deutschl. taf. 121, 122; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 14. fig. 1 ; Naumann,Vog. Deutschl. 

 taf. 143; Sundevall, Svensk. Fogl. pi. 70. fig. 1; Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 59; id. B. of G. 

 Brit. ii. pi. 9; Bettoni, Ucc. Lomb. pi. 104. 



d ad. supr& saturate castaneus, scapularibus et dorso postico toto dilutioribus, fulvescentibus : fronte et super - 

 ciliis albis viridi-cyaneo lavatis : regione parotica et torque gutturali nigris : tectricibus alarum superi- 

 oribus fere castaneis, minimis saturate viridibus : primariis viridibus, scapis brunneis, pogonio interno 

 versus apicem nigricante : secundariis basin versus castaneis, apice nigricantibus, dorsalibus viridibus : 

 Cauda supra, viridi, subtus grisea, scapis rufo-brunneis : gula genisque lsete flavis : corpore subtus cyaneo- 

 viridi, subalaribus fulvescentibus : rostro et pedibus nigris : iride rubra. 



Adult Male (Barcelona, 8tb May). Head, neck, and upper part of the back deep chestnut, gradually lessening 

 in tone towards the scapulars, which are cream-coloured ; a frontal band extending backwards over the 

 eye white, with a slight blue-greenish lustre ; entire back pale chestnut, much lighter on the rump ; 

 upper tail-coverts very pale green ; wing-coverts chestnut, some of the least coverts and the primary- 

 coverts dull greenish ; quills above glossy green, greyish black underneath, most of the inner web 

 cream-coloured ; the secondaries for the most part chestnut like the wing-coverts, tipped (as are also 

 the primaries) witli deep black, the innermost secondaries much washed with dull green, those nearest 

 the back being entirely of this colour ; tail grey, entirely glossed on the upper surface with green, the 

 two middle feathers elongated, tinged with olive ; a line passing below the eye and enclosing the ear- 

 coverts, and another across the lower part of the throat, jet-black; entire throat and cheeks rich golden 



