BEE-EATER. 121 



ground, and after hatching the young,* more generally depart the 

 beginning of August. It is observed that this bird, as well as the 

 Kingsfisher, rejects from its stomach the indigestible parts of its food, 

 which are found in the shape of small pellets about its haunts. 



The Bee-eater is no where more frequent than in the southern 

 latitudes of Russia, chiefly about the Rivers Don, Volga, and Jaick ; 

 some are met with about Tobolschi, on the Irtisch, though few or 

 none further in Siberia. They appear about Woronesch, and neigh- 

 bouring pai'ts, about the 24th of April in vast flocks, making the 

 nests in the clayey banks ; which they perforate in so many places, 

 as to give the appearance of a honeycomb. They depart in Sep- 

 tember, and are observed by thousands in their flight south ward, f 

 In Egypt this bird is called Melino-orghi, Bee's Enemy, and there 

 eaten for food, % at the Cape of Good Hope is named the Gnat- 

 snapper, and is said to be a guide to Hottentots, by directing them 

 to the honey, which the bees lay up in the clefts of the rocks ;§ it is 

 common also in the Isle of Ceylon, and various parts of India. 



2— ARABIAN BEE-EATER. 



Merops chrysocephalus, Ind.Orn.i. 273. Gm. Lin. i. 463. 

 — — — Schaeghagha, Forsk. Faun. Arab. i. No. 3 ? 

 Grand Guepier vert et bleu a gorge jaune, Buf.v'i. 502. 

 Yellow-throated Bee-Eater, Gen. Syn.W. 678. Shaw's Zool. viii. 176. 



LENGTH ten inches. Bill twenty lines long; the forehead, 

 eyebrows, and all the under parts of the body blue green ; the throat 



* This they do notwithstanding the size of the stomach, which occupies the whole of the 

 lower belly, in the same manner as in our Cucliow. 



f Gen. Davies observed to me, that when the sun shines upon them in flying, they are 

 most pleasing objects, as they appear gilded. 



+ Sonnin. Trav. iii. 318. § Kolb. Hist. Cap. ii. 254. 



Toi. IV. R 



