Genus MELITTOPHAGUR 
Apiaster, Brisson, Orn. iv. p. 53:2 (1760, partim). 
Merops, Ganelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 463 (1788, partim). 
Melittophagus , Boie, Isis, 1828, p. 316. Type M.pusillus. 
Meropiscus, Sundevall, CE£v. K. Vet.-Ak. Forb. 1849, p. 162. Type M . gularis. 
Nyctiornis, Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 164 (1850, partim). 
Sphecophobus, Beicbenbacb, Meropinte, p. 82 (1852). Type M.pusillus. 
Coccolurynx, Beichenbach, Meropime, p. 83 (1852). Type M. bullocki. 
Urica, Bp. Consp. Volucr. Anisod. p. 8 (1854). Type M. quinticolor. 
Spheconax, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. ii. p. 133 (1859). Type M. hullo ckoides . 
Melittias, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. ii. p. 134 (1859). Type M. leschenaulti. 
Hab. Ethiopian and Indo-Malayan Begions. 
Alis brevibus ; remige prima brevissimb, tertia longissima, secunda et quarta vix brevioribus : cauda ineonspicue 
emarginata : rostro longo, curvato, attenuato : juguli plumis nee elongatis : pedibus brevibus, robustis. 
Bill long, rather slender, curved, rather stout at the base and attenuated towards the tip, 
which is sharp-pointed ; nostrils roundish, nasal membrane short. "Wings moderate, rather short 
than otherwise, broad, the first quill short, much shorter than the secondaries, the third longest, 
the second and fourth rather shorter and equal ; secondaries long, the elongated inner secondaries 
very long, extending slightly beyond the fifth quill. Tail moderately long, nearly even, being 
slightly emarginate, the outer feathers slightly inclined outwards. Beet small, rather stout, the 
lower part of the tibia sparsely feathered ; tarsus scutellate ; toes moderate, rather stout than 
slender, the anterior parallel and partly united ; claws moderately slender, curved, compressed, 
acute. — 'Type Melittophagus pusillus. 
The present genus contains eleven species, nine of which inhabit the Ethiopian Region, and the 
other two {M. leschenaulti and M. quinticolor ) the Indo-Malayan Region. 
Like their allies they are gregarious, but not so much so as the species belonging to the 
genus Merops , and are seldom seen in large flocks. They frequent swampy and marshy 
localities and the banks of rivers, and feed on insects, which they capture on the wing. Their 
flight resembles that of their allies, and like them their call-note is harsh and monotonous. They 
nest in holes in the ground, usually near water, and excavate their own nest-holes. Their eggs 
are roundish, glossy in texture, and pure white in colour. 
Q 
