PLATE CXXVII. 



Bee-eater. Will. p. 147. 

 Albiu, 2. t, 44. 

 Linn, TranJ, v* $.p* 33$, 



The Common Bee-eater is a bird of very fplendid plumage, the 

 male in particular, the colours in that fex being of a more vivid caft 

 than in the female. It has been denominated the European Bee- 

 eater ; a term not, perhaps, fufficiently difcriminate, fince another 

 fpecies of the fame genus, the Merops Congenor, is alfo found in 

 Europe. Neither is the Merops Apiafter peculiar to Europe : it ex- 

 tends both to Africa and Afia : in Europe it is confined to fouthern 

 countries, and in Afia to more temperate regions. 



Till within the laft few years, this fpecies was altogether unknown 

 as a native of Britain. The firft account we have of its being met 

 with in this country, is recorded in the third volume of the Linnasan 

 Tranfaftions, from which it appears, that a folitary example of the 

 fpecies was fhot in the year 1794, and communicated to Dr. Smith. 



This bird meafures about ten inches, from the tip of the bill to the 

 end of the tail. Its food confifts of infe6ls of various kinds, more 

 efpecially thofe of the bee tribe, in reference to which it bears the 

 name of Bee-eater. Their nefts are faid to be compofed of mofs, 

 and to be depofited, like that of the fand-martin, in deep holes in the 

 banks of rivers. The eggs arc fmaller than thofe of a blackbird, of 

 a white colour, and from five to feven in number. 



PLATE 



