169 



to me more probable that the specimen in question may have been one of the present species. 

 I have, however, not had an opportunity of examining this specimen, and can therefore give no 

 decided opinion on the subject. 



In habits, note, and mode of nidification the present species assimilates closely with Merops 

 apiaster, "which," Captain Shelley writes (B. of Egypt, p. 170), "it resembles in size, habits, and 

 cry ; yet the two species are never found in one flock. During the day they may generally be 

 met with perched upon the telegraph-wires, or feeding among the herds of cattle. I once 

 observed them, towards evening, alight in such immense numbers upon a sandbank that they 

 made it look almost as green as meadow-land ; they appear, however, generally to roost at night 

 in the sont trees." 



I possess eggs of this bird, which agree closely with those of Merops apiaster. 



The specimens figured are an adult male from Egypt and a young female from Persia, both 

 of which are in my own collection. 



In the preparation of the above article 1 have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, 3 ad., b, 5. Egypt {Captain Shelley), c, d 1 . Benisouef, Egypt, March 28th, 1868 (Shelley), d. Egypt 

 (Rogers), e, s . Regan, Nurmanshir, S.E. Persia, April 18th, 1872 (W. T. Blanford). f, $ juv. Shiraz, 

 Persia, summer of 1870 (W. T. Blanford). g. Bissao, Africa (Verreaux). h. River Gambia, (Whitely). 

 i,juv. Ondonga, Ovampo, November 28th, 1866 (Andersson). 



E Mus. G. E. Shelley. 



a, $. Egypt, April 4th, 1868. b, ?. Egypt, March 25th, 1870. c, d, 6 . Egypt, March 1871. e,f, tf. 

 Egypt, April 1st, 1871 (G. E. S.) . 



E Mus. Howard Saunders. 

 a. Egypt (Rogers), b. Egypt, March 25th (Captain Shelley). 



