BEE-EATERS 47 



surface of a bright green colour, the cheeks dark blue, and 

 the throat chestnut. 



The Carmine-throated Bee-eater (M. nuhicoides) may be 

 considered one of the loveliest of South African birds. The 

 top of the head is green, the centre of the back and upper 

 wing crimson, and the rump region bright cobalt-blue. 

 Below it is cherry-pink, except the abdomen and under 

 tail-coverts, which are cobalt-blue. 



This beautiful bird is an inhabitant of the " low " countries, 

 .and is never found elsewhere than in the neighbourhood of 

 rivers. It ranges from Eustenburg in the Transvaal north- 

 wards to Mashonaland and the Congo. 



The following account is taken from Captain Alexander's 

 article in the 1900 volume of the Ibis. He met with a large 

 flock of these Bee-eaters roosting amongst the reeds bordering 

 the Zambesi Eiver : "... Soon a great sight met our 

 eyes. Shaking themselves free of the reeds these birds, 

 some three hundred in number, and glorious in their feathered 

 coats of scarlet, mounted into the air and were soon bathed 

 in the last glows of a setting sun." 



The Little Bee-eater {Melitiophagus meridionalis) is the 

 smallest member of the family. It is green above and 

 orange-fawn below, with a yellow chin and throat succeeded 

 by a narrow strip of blue, followed by a broad black band 

 on the chest. Length, 6 J inches. 



It ranges from Natal and the Transvaal northwards to 

 beyond the limits of South Africa. It is fairly common 

 at Irene, south of Pretoria, where they frequent the mimosa 

 scrub along the Hennops Eiver. They may be seen sitting 

 on a bush or wire fence, makiag occasional short darts into 

 the air after insects. 



The White-fronted Bee-eater (M. bullockoides) can be 



