162 MEROPID.E. 



of Europe are also frequented by them, although not in so 

 great abundance. They are found in France, Switzerland, 

 and Germany in small numbers ; in Italy, Sicily, and Spain 

 they are more frequent, and also in Turkey and the Grecian 

 Archipelago. These countries are their summer residence, 

 and in winter they retire further to the south, and seek refuge 

 in the warmer climates of Africa. 



The Bee-eater is entirely insectivorous ; its food consists 

 of the bee and wasp tribes, of beetles, grasshoppers, gnats, 

 &c. In Italy these birds are esteemed good eating, and 

 are caught and sold in the markets as an article of 

 food. 



The rarity of the Bee-eater in this country renders it but 

 little known s except as a cabinet specimen, but even in this 

 state the beauty of its plumage is very considerable, how 

 much more splendid must be its appearance in a natural 

 state, when the rays of the sun shine upon its brilliant 

 plumage ? Where they are indigenous, these beautiful birds 

 are to be seen flying about the whole day as numerous as the 

 swallows in our own country, pursuing the chase for food, 

 which they also, in common with their tribe, take upon the 

 wing. In their manner of breeding, these birds resemble 

 the sand-martins, and for this purpose choose similar situa- 

 tions, namely, sandy banks by the river side. They asso- 

 ciate together in great numbers at this season, and form 

 their excavations so close together in the bank chosen for 

 this purpose, that it has the appearance of a honey-comb. 

 These perforations are effected by means of their arched 

 beaks and hand-like feet, with which they scoop out circu- 

 lar passages, from three to six feet in depth, of sufficient 

 size to admit their body, along which their short legs enable 

 them to run with facility. At the end of this passage, a 

 larger excavation is made, somewhat resembling an oven. 

 In this dormitory, a slight nest is arranged of moss and other 



