

BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER. 163 



tvro middle tail feathers muck longer than the others. Length 

 from tip of beak to end of long tail feathers twelve inches; carpus 

 to tip, five inches and three quarters; tarsus half an inch; beak 

 one inch and three quarters; tail six inches. 



The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater is an inhabitant of 

 Persia and Egypt, being found especially on the 

 borders of the Caspian Sea. It extends along the 

 shores of the Mediterranean Sea through Tripoli, 

 Algeria, and along the Atlantic coast as far as Senegal; 

 while, eastward, it ranges, according to Dr. Leith 

 Adams, into the north-west of India, where it is not 

 uncommon. 



As might be expected, it is occasionally found on 

 the European side of the Mediterranean, where, 

 however, it occurs only accidentally. It was introduced 

 into the European list by Bonaparte, from two speci- 

 mens which were killed in the neighbourhood of 

 Genes. It is also included by Count Miihle among 

 the birds of Greece, while Dr. Leith Adams informs 

 me that it is found (but rarely) in that neutral territory, 

 Malta. It is recorded ("Ibis," vol. i, p. 27,) by Mr. 

 Tristram as occurring in the valley of the Jordan in 

 Southern Palestine; by Mr. Taylor (ibid, p. 47,) as 

 very abundant in small flocks in Egypt; and Dr. 

 Heuglin says it occurs in large flocks on the Somali 

 coast of the Red Sea. — (Ibid, vol. i, p. 340.) 



In its habits the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater resembles 

 the better-known species in our own fauna, Merops 

 apiaster. 



The male and female have the forehead marked by 

 a white band; above the eye is a band of turquoise 

 blue, with a similar one below, which is, however, 

 slightly mingled with white feathers; from the angle 



