36 
Mr. Holds worth remarks, loc. cit., that it occurs about Colombo. I conclude that the evidence on 
which this place is included in its range must be that of a stray bird ; for I have never observed 
it anywhere nearer to it than the above limits, neither has Mr. MacVicar nor the taxidermist of 
the Colombo Museum, both of whom have collected for many years in that part.” 
Mr. Armstrong (Str. heath, iv. p. 304) says I found it generally distributed over 
every part of Southern Pegu which I visited. It was especially abundant at the mouth of the 
Rangoon river and from there all along the coast up to China Ba-keer, where hundreds might be 
seen perched upon the dead bushes and drift-wood washed up along the margin of the shore just 
above high-water mark. They were here wonderfully tame, allowing me to get within two or 
three yards of them before they would attempt to fly away.” According to Mr. Oates (B. of Brit. 
Burmah, ii. p. 66) this Bee-eater is abundant over the whole of British Burmah except in the 
south of Tenasserim, where, according to Mr. Davison, it is not found south of Mergui, nor does 
it in any part of the country ascend the higher mountains. 
Mr. Bingham says (Str. Death, ix. p. 152) that “ except in heavy forest-land this little bird is 
almost as common in Tenasserim as in the N.W. Provinces of India. It crosses the Dawna range 
into the Thoungyeen valley, and is found in suitable spots all along the river and is a permanent 
resident, breeding there.” 
Dr. Anderson (Yunnan Exped. i. p. 582) found it common in the Sunda valley, and remarks 
that all that were obtained there belonged to the rufous-headed race ; but in Cochin China, where 
this Bee-eater is said to be very common, M. Tiraut remarks that both races are found. It does 
not appear to occur in China proper. 
In habits the Little G-reen Bee-eater does not differ much from its allies ; but it is said to be 
usually seen in small family parties or in pairs, and never in large flocks, and it is extremely tame 
and confiding, showing but little fear of man. 
Dr. A. Leith Adams, who met with it in Egypt and Nubia, says : — “ It is a lively little creature, 
and on sunny days may be seen sporting about with great vigour, now shooting from the 
extremity of an acacia branch, anon flitting from furrow to furrow in a newly ploughed field ; now 
four or six are clustered together on a branch, then suddenly, with loud shrieks and chatterings, 
they break off in divers directions. It is withal a stupid bird, and allows one to approach within 
a few feet ; not even the report of a gun seems to frighten it.” Colonel Legge, in his ‘ Birds of 
Ceylon,’ gives some excellent notes respecting the habits of this Bee-eater, which I transcribe as 
follows : — “ This is one of the most charmingly fearless little birds in Ceylon ; unlike the last it 
is very terrestrial in its habits, perching all day on some little bush or low stick near the ground, 
and sallying out like a Elycatcher after its food, when it at once returns to its perch or sweeps off 
to another close by. It is generally found in pairs, or three or four in scattered company, which 
frequent roadsides and dry open ground of all description where they can find objects to take up 
their watch upon. About Trincomalie, and, in fact, anywhere on the sea-coast of the eastern 
side of the island, it is very fond of the sandy scrubby wastes lining the sea-beach, and is so tame 
that it may be almost knocked down with a stick, so near an approach will it allow before taking 
wing. In the interior a favourite locality with it is the dried-up paddy-fields in the neighbour- 
hood of the village tanks. It roosts in little colonies, retiring early to rest and congregating in 
close company ; it resorts usually to the same tree, round which much noisy preparation goes on — 
flying up and wheeling round, alighting on a neighbouring tree-top and then returning, after 
which the little flock will start out again from the branches and make another little detour, 
keeping up all the while a continuous clamour. Its note is a sweet little chirrup, unlike the 
