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In habits the present species does not differ much from allied species. Von Heuglin says 

 that it does not live in companies, but rather in families and pairs, and frequents the date and 

 Asclepias thickets ; and Dr. Jerdon, writing respecting its habits in India, says (I. c), " It 

 generally hunts, like the Flycatcher, from a fixed station, which may be the top branch of a 

 high tree or a shrub, or hedge, a bare pole, a stalk of grain or grass, some old building, very 

 commonly the telegraph-wires, or even a mound of earth on the plain. Here it sits, looking 

 eagerly around, and on spying an insect, which it can do a long way off, starts rapidly, and 

 captures it on the wing with a distinctly audible snap of the bill ; it then returns to its perch, 

 generally slowly sailing with outspread wings, the copper burnishing of its head and wings 

 shining conspicuously like gold in the sun's beams. Sometimes it may be seen alone, or in small 

 parties seated near each other, but hunting quite independently. It frequently takes two or 

 three insects before it reseats itself on its perch ; and in the morning and evening they collect in 

 considerable numbers, and, often in company with Swallows, hawk actively about for some time. 

 I have seen one occasionally pick an insect off a branch, or a stalk of grain or grass; and 

 Mr. Blyth informs me that he has seen a number of them assembled round a small tank, seizing 

 objects from the water, in the manner of a Kingfisher. They roost generally in some special 

 spot, sometimes a few together in one tree ; but at some stations all the birds for some miles 

 around appear to congregate and roost in one favoured locality. The bamboo tope at Saugor is 

 a celebrated spot of this kind : here Crows, Mynas, Parrakeets, Bee-eaters, Sparrows, &c. collect 

 from miles around ; and the noise they make towards sunset and early in the morning is 

 deafening. The Bee-eater has a loud, rather pleasant, rolling, whistling note, which it often 

 repeats, especially in the morning and towards the evening, and often whilst hunting. They 

 sometimes collect in small parties towards sunset. on a road, and roll themselves about in the 

 sand and dust, evidently with great pleasure." 



Late in March or early in April nidification commences, the eggs being deposited in a hole 

 made in the ground, without any nest. Mr. B. M. Adam writes (Stray Feathers, i. p. 371) as 

 follows: — "It commences to build here towards the end of March. Although, as a rule, it 

 prefers to build in a bank, I have taken its nest on level ground. The nest is generally about 

 three feet deep ; but I have seen them them nearly six feet ; and the egg-cavity is a long oval 

 with the major axis about five or six inches ; it is without any lining ; the angle of the decline 

 from the opening to the nest is about 30°. In some nests which I have dug out, a piece of 

 kunkur or stone has caused the bird to diverge at right angles from the straight line, and then 

 follow the same angle until a sufficient depth has been reached. I have found as many as seven 

 eggs in one nest, although four or five is the normal number ; and I have repeatedly found the 

 young birds in the most various stages of plumage, i. e. one all but fledged, and the youngest 

 covered with down. On several occasions I have found frogs occupying the egg-cavity of this 

 bird." Mr. B. W. Morgan also writes to me that in Southern India the present species " breeds 

 in the banks of rivers and ghaut-roads, digging a neat tunnel from three to seven feet in depth, 

 with a globular chamber at the end. The eggs vary from three to six in number, and are 

 deposited on the earth, there being no attempt at a nest." Mr. Morgan has sent me eggs of the 

 present species, which are pure white in colour, glossy in texture, rather round in form, and in 

 size average about f|y by -f-jj inch. 



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