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Order VII.— ALCYONES. 



Family MEROPID^E. (Bonaparte.) 



Genus Merops. ( Linnceus.) 



Generic Characters. — Beak middle sized, sharp edged, pointed, 

 and slightly curved, the summit elevated and entire. Nostrils 

 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-EATEK. 



Merops Persica. 



Merops Persica, Pallas; Voy., 1776. 



" Savignyi, Cuvier. Swainson. 



" JEgyptius, Forskaiill. 



" superciliosus, llupr-ELL. 



Guepier Savigny, Le Vaillant. 



Guepier meridional, Of the French. 



Siidlicher Bienenfresser, Of the Germans. 



Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, 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 



