BEE-EATER. 159 



INSESSORES. 



FISSIROSTRES. MER0P1DM. 



PLATE XXIIL 



BEE-EATER. 

 Merops Apiaster. {Linn.) 



The Bee-eater has, in several instances, been taken in this 

 country, according to the testimony of several authors, but 

 it appears only during its migration as an occasional visitor 

 from the warmer climates of the old world, where this species 

 chiefly resides. Whenever one of these birds has been ob- 

 tained in England, it has been observed to be in company 

 with others of its species, and such little flocks have possibly 

 been driven out of their course by contrary winds, or have 

 deviated from it in pursuit of a swarm of insects, which, 

 like a will-o'-the-whisp, has led them astray. As these birds 

 associate in society, like the swallow tribe, and take their 

 food upon the wing, our supposition of the manner in which 

 they stray to this country is more than probable. England 

 appears to be their most northern limit, and cannot be con- 

 sidered as of a suitable temperature for them, since the 

 climate cannot possibly be mistaken for a warm one. 



The beauty of the feathering of this bird must be acknow- 

 ledged to surpass all others in the list of British birds. The 

 colours of the mature bird are vivid and rich, and disposed 

 as follows : — the forehead is white, beyond which is a band 

 of emerald green, extending from eye to eye. A black band 



