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was found some years previously near Wurzburg in Bavaria. The late Mr. E. Seideusacher 
informed me that a specimen of this Bee-eater was obtained near Beichenegg on the 21st May 
1864, but that near Marburg it more frequently occurs and has even been seen in small flocks. 
In Transylvania it is, Messrs. Hanford and Harvie Brown state (Ibis, 1875, p. 300), “Local, but, 
where occurring, found in considerable numbers. Herr Klir saw many during former visits at 
Bogat, on the Maros, where they were breeding in the river-banks. They seem, however, to be 
of a wandering disposition ; for, although we looked for them at this breeding-place on two 
occasions, we did not see a single bird, but were always told that they had been there a day or 
two before. The old nesting-holes which we examined in the low earth-banks of the river were 
in some instances completely lined with elytra of beetles. Herr Csato says that in 1850 a great 
flock appeared at Nagy-oldos, in the Strell valley; and by Bieltz and others Klein schelken, 
Birthalen, Nagy-Enyed, Szasvaros, &c. are given as localities.” 
It is common during the breeding-season along the Danube, and breeds in colonies in the 
banks on many of the southern portions of that river. In Southern Bussia and Turkey it is 
exceedingly numerous during the summer ; and according to Messrs. Elwes and Buckley (Ibis, 
1870, p. 189) it is common in Turkey, arriving about the same time as the Boiler, with which it 
associates. Colonies of Bee-eaters breed in the earthy cliffs of the Danube, making their holes in 
the bank like Sand-Martins. Dr. Krliper says that it is a common bird throughout Greece, 
Macedonia, and Asia Minor, where it arrives early in April, and commences breeding late in May 
or early in June. He took fresh eggs on the 26th May and the 10th of June in Acarnania, and 
the 23rd May in Ionia, and incubated eggs on the 8th June on the Isthmus. Eight eggs is the 
number usually deposited. As soon as the young birds are full-grown they are found in August 
in flocks on the plains, and leave altogether in September. 
Lord Till ford writes (Ibis, 1860, p. 235), “the Bee-eater arrives in Corfu and Epirus in 
great numbers in April, and breeds in the latter country on the banks of the Kataito river, near 
Mursyah, and many other similar localities. In all the holes that we examined, the eggs were 
laid on the bare sand, without any attempt at a nest. I several times observed three, and once 
or twice four birds fly from the same hole. These birds leave the country as soon as the young 
are able to fly. I have never seen them later than the beginning of August. I observed also, in 
August 1858, on the banks of the Guadalquivir, near San Juan de Alfarache, where there is a 
large colony of this species, that, although the banks were mined in every direction, and exhibited 
signs of recent occupation, not a Bee-eater was to be seen.” 
In Asia Minor it is, as in Greece, very common in all suitable localities ; and in Palestine, 
Canon Tristram writes (Ibis, 1866, p. 83), “ though far more numerous in individuals than the 
Boiler, it is less universally distributed, living, however, in large societies in every part of the 
country. Unlike its smaller congener, Merops viridis, it does not frequently perch, but remains 
for hours on the wing, skimming, Swallow-like, up and down a nullah or wady, or systematically 
ranging and quartering a barley-plain in pursuit of insects on the wing. Seen athwart the sun- 
beams as they pass overhead, their colour has the appearance of burnished copper. They feed as 
well as breed in colonies, preferring low banks to the steeper declivities, and seeming to rely for 
protection against lizards and other enemies on the structure and turnings of their dwellings 
rather than on their position. I have taken eggs from a nest in the side of a mere sand-mound on 
the plain, out of which I started the bird by riding over its hole.” 
In Africa this Bee-eater is widely distributed, being found from the shores of the Mediter- 
ranean to the Cape Colony. Yon Heuglin says (Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 197) that it is common 
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