( i8 3 J 
The Indian B e e-E a t e r. 
T HE Bird is here reprefented of its natural Bignefs : It differs from the Merop s f 
or Bee-Eater found in Europe, in being not half fo big, and in having the 
Middle-Feathers of the Tail much longer. It is certainly a diftineft Species from the 
Mercps of Europe, tho’ Mr. Albin would make this fmall one the Male of the other. 
The Bill is pretty long, fharp-pointed, and a little bowed downwards ; the upper 
Mandible is Black or Dufky, the Nether Whitifh at its Bafe ; from the Corner of 
the Mouth there paffes a black Line through the Eye, bending downwards on the 
Side of the Head. The Beginning of the Forehead, next the Bill,, is Blue, as are 
the Throat and Sides of the Head beneath the Eyes; the Crown and Hinder-parts of ' 
the Head and Neck, are of a Red, or Grange-Colour. On the upper Part of the 
Breaft is a Black tranfverfe Mark, like a New Moon with the Horns turn’d upwards. 
The Back and leffer Covert-Feathers of the Wings, are of a Parrots Green ; the Rump, 
or Coverts ofthe Tail, are of a bluifh Green ; the Breaft and Belly are of a light Green ; 
the Thighs of a reddifh Brown ; the Coverts beneath the Tail of a dirty Green. The 
greater Quills ofthe Wings are Black or Dufky at their Tips, having a little Green 
on their Edges towards their Roots ; the Middle-Quills are of an Orange-Colour, 
border’d with Green, having black Spots a little within their Tips, the very Tips 
being Orange- Colour ; the inner Quills next the Back are wholly Green; the firff. 
Row of Coverts above the Quills, are Orange in their Middles, and Green on their 
Borders; the Tail is Green; the Shafts of the Feathers are dark Brown; the two 
Middle-Feathers fhootout more than two Inches beyond the Reft, are Brown at their 
Tips, and very narrow, being little more than the bare Shafts. The under Side of 
the Tail is of a dufky Green. The Legs arefhort, as in the King-Fifher, of which 
it is a Species. The three forward Toes are joined partly together, the outer to the 
Middle one more efpecially ; its Claws are pretty ftrong ; the Legs and Feet ofa dufky- 
brown Colour. 
This Bird is one of the Collection of Mr. Dandridge : It was brought from. Bengal . . 
Albin has given a bad Defcription of it, borrowing whole Lines from JVillugbbfs Me— 
rops, which is manifeftly quite a different Bird. See IVillughbfs Defcription, in his 
Ornithology , P. 147, zndAlbin’s in his Hi/lory of Birds , VoL III. P. 29, 
Elichryfum Africanutn , Foliis lanceolati$ y integris , tomentojis , decur- 
rentibus , Capitulis congefiis y ex Rubello aureisi 
T H I S Plant bears only a fmgle Bunch of Flowers at the Top, as I am inform’d, (which 
I did not know when the Plate was Graving;) having a fingle Bunch, I increafed it in my 
Drawing to decorate the Plate, but am defirous here to reftify the Miftake. The Flowers are 
of their natural Bignefs, in the Fafhion of an Artichoke, of a Red, or Rofe-Colour on their 
upper Parrs, and a Golden-Colour beneath ; the Leaves of the Plant are of a dirty-white 
Colour, without Foot Stalks ; both Leaves and Stem are cover’d with a cottony Subftance. 
Mr. Watfcn , F. R. S. of Alderfgate-ftreet , obliged me with the above Botanical Name of this 
Plant. I take it to be a Non-defcript. 
This Flower was brought from the Cape of Good Hope , by my good Friend Captain Ifaac 
Worth, Commander of the Houghton Indiaman , Anno 1749. 
Us 
