2 THE BEE-EATER. 



nearly every occurrence in the British Islands has 

 taken place in spring, as if some members of the 

 hordes which sweep into Southern Europe at this 

 time of the year, were carried beyond their usual 

 range by the impetus of migration, and so 

 reached England. Its principal home, however, 

 is Southern Europe, whence it ranges eastward 

 as far as Central Asia and Cashmere, breeding 

 everywhere throughout this wide extent of habitat. 

 For the winter season it migrates south, some 

 Asiatic individuals wandering but a short distance, 

 though it is probable that the bulk of them 

 pass by Arabia to Africa, which continent is, 

 undoubtedly, the principal winter resort of the 

 species. Its course along the Nile Valley can 

 almost be traced with certainty, as it has been 

 observed in the Lake districts of Equatorial 

 Africa, and in most of the countries of Eastern 

 Africa, where collections have been made, while 

 it is apparently unknown in any portion of West 

 Africa proper. After passing the Zambesi country, 

 we find it in almost every part of South Africa, 

 even in the neighbourhood of Cape Town itself, 

 while it is by no means a rare winter visitor to 

 Damara Land and South-western Africa generally 



