136 BEE-EATER. 



middle ones exceed the others about eight inches,* and end in a 

 point; colour of the legs uncertain. The place from whence it came 

 unknown. 



18— RED-THROATED BEE-EATER. 



Merops gularis, Ind. Orn. Sup. xxxv. Nat. Misc. pi. 337. 

 Red-throated Bee-Eater, Gen. Syn. Sup. ii. 157. Shaw's Zool. viii. 177. 



SOMEWHAT less than the Common Species ; length eight 

 inches. Bill one inch and a half long, black ; general colour of the 

 plumage above black ; forehead fine blue, passing a little way over 

 the eye, behind which is a patch of the same; fore part of the throat 

 and neck fiery red ; rump blue, marked with spots of black ; belly 

 clouded blue and black ; some of the quills and tail feathers edged 

 with blue ; base of the greater quills ferruginous, forming a patch 

 on the wing, and when closed reach but little beyond the base of the 

 tail, which is nearly even at the end, and two inches long; legs 

 dusky. 



Inhabits Sierra Leone in Africa. 



A. — Size of the other. Bill one inch and a quarter long, a trifle 

 curved, somewhat quadrangular, and black ; front over the bill fine 

 blue, appearing tufted, and passing over the eye in a narrow streak ; 

 the rest of the head and back, tinged with green; across the chin, 

 at the base of the bill, a broad band of fine crimson, but not con- 

 tinuing on the throat; body in general greenish black; the lower 

 part of the back, and shoulders, have the feathers margined with 

 dull green ; fore part of the neck from the chin, the breast, and belly 



* Willughby says, about two palms length. 



