BEE-EATEES. 



487 



the opening of their hives, and snatch up all that enter or depart. 

 They are skilful in avoiding their sting. Living together in 

 numerous flocks, they rapidly clear a district of wasps and wild 

 bees, 



Tley build their nests in the banks of rivers or rivulets, in 

 holes which they excavate to the depth of six or seven feet. 

 Some species are highly esteemed as table delicacies by the 

 Fremh. 



The Bee-eaters inhabit the warmer regions of the Old World, 

 such is Bengal, the west coast of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, 

 Morocco, and Malta. One species alone is found in Europe, the 



Fig. 202. — Common Bee-eater {Merops upiaster^ Sw.). 



Commoi Bee-eater {Merops apiaster), Fig. 202. From the coast 

 of Afri<a it migrates in small flocks into the countries skirting the 

 northern shores of the Mediterranean. Some individuals proceed 

 into Fance, Switzerland, and Grermany ; others spread themselves 

 over Tirkey and the southern parts of Russia. In England it is 

 occasicaally met with in Cornwall, Devonshire, and along the 

 Hampihire coast. It has been shot in the Mull of Galloway. In 

 Frane it arrives in the month of May, and remains but a short 

 time. As a rule it rarely ventures further north than the South 

 of Fnnce. 



Tie MoMOTS {Prionites, lUiger) are birds still very imperfectly 



