8 
from the chin extending clown the breast rich turquoise-blue, varying to deep ultramarine-blue ; 
lower breast and underparts generally ochreous buff, the abdomen broadly striped with dark 
green , vent and under tail-coverts plain buff ; under surface of the wings warm orange-buff, that 
of the tail yellowish buff, tipped with brown ; bill dark horn, light at the base of the lower 
mandible ; legs pale dingy green ; claws horn-colour ; iris orange-red or orange-brown. Total 
length about 18 inches, culmen 1-8, wing 5'6, tail 5 '7, tarsus 0-75. 
Adult female (Tenasserim, 20tli Oct.).— Resembles the male, but is smaller, measuring— Total 
length IT 5 inches, culmen T3, wing 5'25, tail 53, tarsus 0-7. 
Young . — Differs from the adult in having the forehead and throat dark green and not blue, 
and the general tinge of green in the plumage is darker than in the adult. 
This, the largest of the Bee-eaters, inhabits the Indian region only, being found in India proper, 
whence it ranges eastward into Burmali and Cochin China. Dr. Jerdon (B. of India, i. p. 212) 
says that “ it is found in the large and lofty forests of India. I have found it in Malabar in 
several localities; well up the sides of the Neilgherries at least to 3000 feet; in the Wynaad 
jungles ; and, on one occasion, on the Nackenary Pass, leading from the Carnatic into Mysore, at 
about 1400 feet. It does not appear to occur in Central India, but is not rare all along the Hima- 
layan range from the Deyra Doon to Assam, Arrakan, and Tenasserim. I got it at Darjeeling 
at about 4000 feet high.” According to Capt. Butler (Str. Death, ix. p. 382) it is “ rare in the 
Deccan and Southern Mahratta country. It was obtained by Laird in the forest tract west 
of Belgaum, but he did not hear of any other instance of its occurrence within the region.” 
Mr. Davison informs me that it is by no means a common species in Southern India, but has 
been obtained at Kulhutty in the Neilgherries, at Villayar in Coimbatore, and at Carcoor and 
Nelambore in Malabar. Dr. Dairbank, during a visit to the Palani hills in Southern India, 
obtained this bird, in December 1866, at the head of the Kamban valley, which skirts the Palanis 
along the south-eastern base, and he also observed a pair at Periur on the lower Palanis in March. 
Hodgson procured it in Nepal and at Darjeeling, and there are examples in the British Museum 
from Travancore and Nynee-Tal. It is found in Burmali, Tenasserim, Siam, and Cochin China; 
and Mr. Oates writes (B. of Brit. Burmah, ii. p. 64) that “ it occurs sparingly throughout British 
Burmah, frequenting forest country and being a constant resident. I procured a few specimens 
in the Arrakan hills near Nyoungyo, and I met with it near Pegu town once or twice. 
Mr. Blanford got it at Bassein, and Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay at Tonghoo and on the Karin hills.” 
Mr. Hume records it from Pahpoor, Amherst, Karope, and Tavoy in Tenasserim ; Blyth says 
that in the Southern Tenasserim provinces it occurs together with Nyctiornis amictus. 
Messrs. Hume and Davison write (‘Stray Leathers, ’ vi. p. 68) that “this Bee-eater is found in 
Tenasserim at Pahpoor, Thatone, the Salween river, Thoungsha, the Gyne river, Kanee, ICliyin, and 
Amherst, and is sparingly distributed throughout the better-wooded and less elevated parts of the 
northern and central parts of the province ; ” and Mr. Davison says that he “ met with it only 
at Amherst and northwards of that place ; it is nowhere very common and only occurred in the 
better wooded portions of the country. As a rule it prefers to keep to the forest, but it occasionally 
wanders into gardens, and at Amherst I shot two specimens off a large peepul-tree growing some 
