104 THE BIRDS OF CALCUTTA. 



he has a curved instead of a straight beak, and a long 

 tail, he is very kingfisher-like. When in the hand, 

 it may be observed that his feet are of the same 

 peculiar make as those of Kingfishers, and he burrows 

 out a nest in the same manner, and lays similar eggs. 

 Bee-eaters are very nice httle birds ; they are more 

 sociable than their relatives, and several sit about 

 together ; and they also breed in societies, making 

 a regular warren where they are numerous. Like 

 Philip Sparrow, also, they are among the few birds 

 which both dust themselves and bathe, which argues 

 an intelligent appreciation of all the simple pleasures 

 open to a bird. When dusting they, of course, have 

 to settle ; but they take their bath by a plunge like 

 a swallow. They are not constant residents in 

 Calcutta — at any rate one only notices them at certain 

 seasons, and then their pretty green plumage and 

 graceful flight make them very conspicuous. 

 Although one of the smallest of the family, being, 

 except for his long tail, only about as big as a sparrow, 

 the Green Bee-eater is a most prosperous species, 

 extending from North-East Africa to Cochin China_ 

 As with so many wide-ranging birds, the Bee-eater's 

 coat varies locally. In the North -West of India his 

 throat becomes more or less blue, while in Burma 

 htf frequently sports an auburn cap. This is an 

 example of one way in which species arise. If the 



