59 
It appears to be tolerably common in Siam and on tbe Malay peninsula. Dr. Meyer writes 
(‘Ibis,’ 1879, p. 57) that “In the Minahassa this bird is only plentiful at certain times, viz. in 
the dry season during the east monsoon ; in the west monsoon it is rarely to be met with. In 
Limbotto I got it in July, in Makassar in October, 1871, later in Singapore, in December 1871, 
on Luzon in February 1872, on Negros (Philippine Islands) in March 1872.” I have examined 
specimens from Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and the Celebes, which agree closely with others from 
India, Burmah, and the Philippine Islands ; and Lord Tweeddale remarked that “ specimens from 
the Philippines in no respect differ from Luzon and Negros individuals, or, indeed, from examples 
from any part of the Indian region,” and he adds that it has not hitherto been recorded from 
Zebu. Mr. Mottley writes (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 213) that in Borneo “it is a very common bird in 
open places, sailing in circles to hunt the larger Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. It also makes 
great havoc among the dragonflies with which the air is sometimes filled here. When these 
birds have seized their prey, they return to their stand, usually a hare high branch, and there 
kill it by beating it against the twigs. Great numbers of them may sometimes be seen together 
in the evening flying in one direction, uttering the cry ( pinTc-pinIc ) which gives their name.” 
Before concluding the notes on the range of this Bee-eater, I must remark that it has 
been included in the British list; but I think there must he some mistake in the matter. 
Mr. Hancock writes (B. of Northumb. & Durh. p. 28) that he examined a specimen, belonging 
to the Rev. T. M. Hicks, which was shot near the Snook, Seaton Carew, in August 1862, by 
Mr. Thos. Hann, of Byer’s Green. Thanks to the courtesy of Mr. Hicks, I have had an oppor- 
tunity of examining this bird and comparing it with my specimens, and I also took advantage 
of this opportunity to exhibit it at a meeting of the Zoological Society. There is no doubt that 
the specimen is an old bird of Merops philippinus in very perfect plumage ; but how a bird 
with the power of flight of the present species, which has not been hitherto observed west 
of Sindh, can have come alive over to our island, I cannot imagine : it may have been 
“ changed at nurse ” when in the possession of the bird-stuffer, for it is well known that, 
owing to a similar mistake, the American Wax wing has also been erroneously included in 
the British list. 
Speaking of the habits of this Bee-eater, Dr. Jerdon says (l. c.) that “ it is mostly observed 
in scattered parties, perching on high trees, often among paddy-fields, and it in general takes a 
much longer circuit than Merops viriclis before returning to its perch. I have often seen one 
seated on a low palisade, or stump of a tree overhanging a nullah or back-water, every now and 
then picking an insect off the surface of the water. 
“ They feed on wasps, bees, dragon-flies, bugs, and even on butterflies, which I have seen this 
species frequently capture. The flight of this Bee-eater is very fine and powerful, now dashing 
onwards with rapid strokes, and a velocity that can beat that of a dragon-fly, having captured 
which, it flaps along with more measured time, now and then soaring with outspread wing. The 
voice is a full mellow rolling whistle. On one occasion I saw an immense flock of them, probably 
many thousands, at Caroor, on the road from Trinchinopoly to the Nilghiris ; they were perched 
on the trees lining the fine avenue there, and every now and then sallied forth for half an hour 
or so, capturing many insects, and then returning to the trees. These birds were probably 
collected there previous to migrating to their breeding-quarters. They nestle, like Merops viriclis, 
in holes in hanks of large rivers. I have not seen in India any of these breeding-haunts, but I 
have lately seen them breeding in thousands on the banks of the Irawaddy in Burmah, in April 
and May. It would be interesting to know if all the birds of this species that spread themselves 
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