9 
considerable distance from any forest. I have not met with this species south of Amherst, though 
it possibly does occur somewhat further south.” Capt. Bingham observed it near Kaukarit, and 
adds that it was far commoner along the well-wooded Dawna range and in the Thoungyeen valley. 
Dr. Anderson also obtained it near Bhamo. 
In the British Museum there is a specimen collected by Mouhot in Cambodia; and 
Dr. Tiraut writes (l. c .) that it “inhabits the open portions of all the large forests of Cochin 
China : I have killed it at D6ng-lach, at Cai-Cung, Suoi-nuoc, and Srok-tranh. It carries itself 
like the other Bee-eaters, but lives in solitude. I kept one in confinement for more than three 
weeks. It had a broken wing and could not fly far. Usually it sat still and attentive on its perch, 
uttering a harsh cry like a Boiler when offered a live insect.” 
In habits the present species does not appreciably differ from the members of the genus 
Merops. It frequents wooded localities, but is far from being a denizen of the dense forests 
like A yctiornis amictus. Mr. Davison informs me that it is “ a silent and rather shy bird, rarely 
uttering a cry except when alarmed. It frequents the borders of the dense forests of Southern 
India and may occasionally he seen perched on a bamboo overhanging some stream on the look 
out for insects. They are almost invariably found in pairs. The Irulars or Hillmen declare that 
they breed in holes in river-banks ; but I have never succeeded in obtaining the eggs myself.” 
Captain Beavan, who procured it at Moulmein, says that it was seated on a dead bough of a tree 
which overhung a tank, from which it sallied forth every few minutes like the ordinary Bee-eater 
and returned to its perch with an insect. It allowed him to approach within easy shot without 
seeming at all annoyed by his presence. 
Hodgson, writing on the habits of this species, says (Journ. As. Soc. Beng. v. p. 361) that 
“ they are of rare occurrence and are solitary woodlanders. They are found in the lower and 
central regions of Nepal, but seldom or never in the northern. Their food consists of bees and 
their congeners, but they likewise consume great quantities of scarab an and their like ; they seek 
the deep recesses of the forests, and there, tranquilly seated on a high tree, watch the casual 
advent of their prey, and having seized it, return directly to their station. They are of dull 
staid manners, and never quit the deepest recesses of the forest. In the rajah’s shooting-excur- 
sions they are frequently taken alive by the clamorous multitude of sportsmen, some two or more 
of whom single out a bird, and presently make him captive, disconcerted as he is by the noise. 
The intestinal canal in this bird is usually about twelve inches long, with caeca of an inch or more 
in length placed near to the bottom of it. The stomach is muscular and of medial subequal 
thickness. Such, too, is the character of the stomach and intestines in Merops .” 
I am also indebted to Capt. Bingham for the following notes : — 
“ This species is fairly common in the Tenasserim forests, affecting the more open forests 
and gardens ; I have even procured it on some solitary trees in a paddy-field near Kaukarit on 
the Houndraw river. It has a hoarse chuckling croak, and if a pair happen to be seated near 
each other when one takes a flight the other croaks, bending its head down and puffing out its 
pectoral plumes, ending up with a long ‘ k-r-r-r .’ Another note it has by which it has frequently 
betrayed its vicinity to me, which is not at all unlike the self-satisfied short ‘ cluk ’ of RJiopodytes 
tristis. This bird is a veritable bee-eater ; out of the many I have shot, I have rarely found 
one whose stomach was not crammed with bees. 
“ Lieut. Atherton, the discoverer of this species, informed Selby that it was £ very scarce and 
rare, inhabiting the thickest jungles in the interior of India, and feeding by night, at which time 
it was very noisy, repeating frequently the short cry of curr, curr.’ Thus it will be seen that the 
c 
