Descriptive Inst of the Common Birds 
and is said to leave the island of Bombay in 
the hot weather. (Illus. B. D., p. 825; also 
B. B., p. 42, and G. B., p. 64.) 
117. Merops philippinus: The Blue-tailed 
Bee-eater. (F. 1027), (J. 118), (II, but with 
rather a long tail.) 
General hue green, shot with bronze; the 
tail is bluish. There is a broad black streak 
running through the eye. The chin is a dirty 
cream colour. The throat is chestnut-red. 
The eye is bright red. 
This species is a larger and less beautiful 
edition of No. 116. Like the latter it under- 
goes partial migration, being a summer visitor 
to N. India and a winter visitor to S. India. 
One sees large numbers of these birds when 
out snipe shooting in Madras. They perch on 
the bands between the flooded fields and make 
sallies into the air after insects. The note is 
a feeble but mellow whistle. 
The Kingfishers, 118-120 
These form a very well-marked group of 
piscatorial birds, characterised by long bills 
and short tails. They nest in holes in river 
banks. 
L 161 
