175 



green throat and the head strongly tinged with rufous, and in Ceylon and Southern India almost 

 all specimens have the throat greenish blue, those from Ceylon having, as a rule, the most blue 

 on the throat, but the crown is as in Egyptian examples. Still, all these differences are so 

 variable that, as above stated, I cannot do otherwise than unite the Indian and African species 

 under the name of Merops viridis. I may, however, here remark that Edwards's plate, on which 

 Linnseus based his name viridis, represents an Indian specimen of the variety, which has the 

 throat tinged with blue. 



The specimen figured is the one above described, from Egypt, and is in my collection. 



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



E Mus. II. E. Dresser. 



a, b, c. Egypt (Capt. Shelley), d. Abyssinia (Verreaux). e. India. /. Maunbhoom, India, January 1865 

 (Beavan). g, h. Ceylon (Holdsworth) . i. Pegu, Britisb Burmah. 



E Mus. Brit. Reg. 



a,b,c. Egypt (Sir S. Baker), d. Nubia (Schaufuss). e. Atfah, Annesley Bay, Abyssinia, February 5th, 1868 

 (Blanford). f. Habab, Abyssinia, July 9th, 1868 (Blanford). g, h. Zoulla, Abyssinia, June 8th, 1868 

 (W. Jesse), i, 2 . Khist, N.E. of Bushire (Major St. John), k. Uwadar, December 1871 (Blanford). 

 I, m. Madras. n. Lahore (Marshall). o. Darjeeling (Hodgson), p, q. Nepal (Hodgson), r, s, t, u. 

 Kamptee (Dr. Hinde). v. Shienpayah, Burmah, January 16th, 1868 (Dr. J. Andersson). w. Mandalay, 

 Upper Burmah, September 25th, 1868 (Dr. J. Andersson) . 



E Mus. G. E. Shelley. 



a,b,6,c,2. Egypt, February 1868 (G. E. S.). d, 6 . Egypt, March 15th, 1868. e, 6. Egypt, March 30th, 

 1870 (G. E. S.). 



E Mus. H. J. Elwes. 

 a, d ■ Bodenar, Kenoor, February 7th, 1870 (H. J. E.). 



E Mus. E. W. H. Holdsivorth. 

 a,b,2. Aripo, N.W. Ceylon, February 13th, 1869. c, ? . Aripo, December 12th, 1869 (E. W. H. H.). 



