THE LITTLE GREEN BEE-EATER 
Merops viridis 
The plumage throughout is green, with a black eye-stripe 
and a black marking in front on chest; legs brown, beak 
black, eyes crimson, two centre tail-feathers very elongated. 
Total length, 11 inches. 
THERE are three species of Bee-eaters, but this, the 
Little Green Bee-eater, is chosen because it is 
resident, and because it must be seen by every one 
in Upper Egypt. The other two species are both 
birds of passage through Egypt, and are seldom 
seen or heard till April or May, when most people 
have left. This bird is well called the Green Bee- 
eater since it is green right over every part of its 
upper plumage, but owing to the shading of parts 
not in the full light of the sun it often appears as 
if its head were of burnished gold, and again when 
it flies, if the light be at all behind it, the trans- 
parent outstretched wings look a brilliant orange 
owing to the under-sides being of that rich warm 
colour. In habits it will remind any observer 
of our Fly-catchers at home, for it sits rather 
humped up on a dead twig, wall, or post till, 
suddenly observing some passing bee or fly, it 
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