t. 69. Br. Zool. Svo, ed. v. 1. p.^ 
Mont. Orn. Diet. lb. Sup, Gen, Zool 
V. 8. pt. 1. p. 152. p. 19. 
This elegant species is about ten inches in length ; and 
for variety and gaity of colours, equals, if not surpasses, 
most of our native birds. Bill black, one inch and three 
quarters long; irides red; tail composed of twelve feathers, 
of which the two centre ones exceed the others in length by 
nearly an inch ; legs short. 
The European or Common Bee-Eater is gregarious 
and migratory, visiting this country at distant and uncer- 
tain intervals; it appears to have been first noticed in 
England in the year 1794. In the third volume of the 
Transactions of the Linnean Society, an account is given 
of one that was shot in July 1794, near Mattishall, in 
Norfolk : a flock, consisting of about twenty birds, was 
seen in June, and part, it is supposed, of the same flight 
was seen near the same place on its return in the October 
following. Since this period the species has occasionally 
been met with in various parts of this kingdom, the more 
particularly in the eastern counties ; and one instance has 
come to our knowledge of its been killed in Devonshire. 
This species is common to many parts of Europe, Asia, 
and Africa; is abundant in several of the islands in the 
Mediterranea Sea, particularly so in Malta, iEgina, 
Elba, &c. Mr. Montagu says, " they have been seen in 
Germany and Sweden ; but no where so plentiful as in the 
