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COMMON BEE-EATER. 
Merops, Linn. — Generic characters. — Bill 
long, compressed, carinated, dilated at the 
base ; wings long, pointed, first quill very 
short, second longest in the wing ; tarsi and 
feet short, exterior toes united, claws hooked, 
strong, hind claw small. 
Note. — Colours of the plumage vivid, shades 
of green, yellow, and rich brown. Breed in 
holes in banks, feed on the wing. 
Europe, Asia, Africa. 
Common Bee-Eater, Merops apiaster.—- 
Merops apiaster. Will. Linn. — Common Bee- 
Eater of British authors This is another very 
rare visitant. A few instances of its having 
been seen and killed in England are recorded. 
Mr Thompson states, that it has been taken once 
or twice in Ireland; and it has been captured 
about a like number of times in Scotland, of 
which, we believe, the last is mentioned in the 
Magaaine of Natural History for 1838. We can 
look upon all these, however, as only straggling 
birds driven from their migratory course. On 
the Continent, it appears sparingly in the middle 
and southern parts, but is said to be common in 
Spain, also in Sicily, and in Greece and Turkey. 
In Southern Africa it is also frequent, and we have 
received many specimens which do not seem to 
vary from those killed in Europe. The Bee- 
Eater feeds on insects, and in a great measure 
on those of the genus hymenoplera, and from 
