AZURE-THROATED BEE-EATER . — Nyctiornis At/iertdni. 
The truly magnificent Azure-Throated Bee-eater is an inhabitant of India. 
It is a very rare bird on account of its extreme shyness, and the nature of the 
spot where it makes its residence. The home of this bird is always in the recesses 
of Indian forests, and in spite of its glowing colours and noisy tongue, it is so 
fearful of man that it is seldom seen. When discovered, however, it often 
falls an easy prey to the hunter on account of extreme nervousness. The report 
of a gun will hive such an effect upon its nervous system as to stun it, and it 
sometimes happens that in the great hunting expeditions of the native chiefs, 
this Bee-eater is so stupified by the fire-arms, that it lies helplessly on the branch, 
and permits itself to be taken by hand. 
The Azure-throated Bee-eater is a splendid bird, and is chiefly remarkable for 
the long soft azure feathers which hang from the throat and neck. The top of 
its head is bright scarlet and blue, and the upper surface a brilliant green. 
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