152 



MEROPS. BEE-EATER. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum curvatum, com- 

 pressum, carinatum. 



Lingua plerisque apice laci- 

 niata. 



Pedes gressorii. 



Lin. Syst, Nat. 



Bill curved, compressed, 

 carinated. 



Tongue in most species la- 

 ci niated at the tip. 



Feet gressorial, viz. with 

 three toes forwards and 

 one backwards; the middle 

 toe connected with the 

 outer one. 



COMMON BEE-EATER. 



Merops Apiaster. M, ihalassina, gula fiava^ dorso ferrvgineo- 

 Jiavescente, fascia oculari nigra, rtctrkibus mediis elongato-acw 

 minatis. 



Sea-green Bee-Eater, with yellow throat, yellow ferruginous back, 

 black eye-stripe, and the two middle tail feathers sharp-eion- 

 gated. 



Merops Apiaster. M. dorso ferrngineOj ahdomine caudaque viridi- 

 ccerulescente, rectricibus duabus longioribus, gula lutea, Lin, Syst. 

 Nat. 



Merops. Gesn. Aldrov. SfC. 



Merops sive Apiaster. Raii. syn. p. Ag. Charlt. onom. zoic, p. 



87. fl' oppos. Apiaster. Briss. av. 

 The Eee-Eater. Will. orn. 

 LeGuepler. Buf.ois. PL Enl.gSS. 

 Common Bee-Eater. Lath. syn. 



This is one of the most elegant of the European 

 birds, and, next to the Roller and the Kingfisher^ 



