Order VII.— ALCYONES. 
Fcwiihj MEROPID^. (Bonaparte.) 
Genus Merops. ( Linnceus.J 
Generic Characters . — Beak middle sized, sharp edged, pointed, 
and slightly curved, the summit elevated and entire. Aostrils 
basal, lateral, ovoid, and open, the opening hidden by having 
feathers directed forward. Feet with the tarsus short; of the 
three toes in front the most external is united up to the 
second articulation of the middle toe, and this with the in- 
ternal up to the first articulation; the hind toe broad at its 
base; claws — that of the hind toe the smallest. Wings — the 
first primary very short, the second the longest in the wing. 
BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATEE. 
Merops Persica. 
Merops Persica, 
“ Savignyi, 
“ Migyptius, 
“ siiperciliosus, 
Guepier Savigny, 
Guepier meridional, 
Sildlicher Bienenfresser, 
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, 
Pallas; Voy., 1776. 
Cuvier. Swainson. 
Forskahll. 
PuprELL. 
Le Vaillant. 
Of the French. 
Of the Germans. 
SWAINSON. 
Specific Characters . — Throat yellow; upper part of neck 
anteriorly, russet red; upper plumage various shades of green; 
superciliary ridge and a band below the eyes turquoise blue. The 
