LITTLE FORK-TAILED BEE-EATER. 89 
original name, not absolutely objectionable, we retain 
that of Dr. Latham, although pusilla would at 
once have indicated its greatest peculiarity, namely, 
its diminutive size. 
This little Bee-eater was first brought from Senegal 
by the celebrated botanist and traveller Adanson, 
and communicated to Bufl’on, who in his loose man- 
ner described it as the Petit Gut-pier du Senegal, 
under which name we find it figured on the 318th 
plate of the Planches Enluminees, yet so badly, that 
did we rest upon these materials only for determining 
the species before us, we should consider this as a 
totally different bird. Dr. Latham, however, al- 
though his figure is equally defective, supplies its 
inaccuracy by a tolerably good description, having 
noticed the rich and elegant spot on the throat, 
which is altogether omitted in the two figures above 
mentioned. To this elucidation of its scientific his- 
tory, we can add but little regarding its manners. 
It seems to be a common species on the western side 
of Africa, and appears to extend to Abyssinia ; it is 
not known, however, at the Cape of Good Hope ; at 
least we have never seen specimens from the south- 
ern parts of Africa. 
The total length of the adult bird is not more 
than six inches. The whole of the upper plumage, 
excepting the primary and secondary quills, and 
the lateral tail-feathers, is of that peculiar glossy 
changeable green, which is so prevalent in this genus, 
appearing in some lights yellowish, and in others 
bluish ; a black ocular stripe extends to the ear- 
