M ELITTOPHAGUS SONNINII. 
ANGOLAN BEE-EATER 
Le Guepier a collier gros-bleu ou le Guepier Sonnini, Levaill. Hist. Nat. Guep. p. 33, pi. 7 (1807). 
Melittophagus sonnini, Boie, Isis, 1828, p. 316 ; Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 163 (1850) . 
Merops angolensis, Gray, Gen. of B. i. p. 86 (1816, nec Gm .) ; Beichenow, J. f. Orn. 1877, p. 21. 
Melittophagus cyanipectus, Verreaux, Her. et Mag. Zool. 1851, p. 269. 
Merops cyanipectus (Verr.), Beichenbach, Meropinse, p. 71 (1852). 
Sphecophobus sonnini (Boie), Beichenbach, tom. cit. p. 82 (1852). 
Sphecophobus cyanipectus (Verr.), Beicbenbacb, tom. cit. p. 82 (1852). 
Melittophagus angolensis, Cab. Mns. Hein. ii. p. 135 (1859-60, nec Gm.) . 
Merops sonnini (Boie), Bocage, J. Sc. Ac. Lisb. ii. p. 135 (1867); id. op. cit. iv. p. 332 (1869). 
Merops variegatus, Bocage, Orn. d Angola, p. 91 (1881, nec Vieill.). 
Figures notdbiles . 
Levaillant, Hist. Nat. Guep. pi. 7 ; Beicbenbacb, Meropinse, pi. ccccxlvii. figs. 3237, 3238. 
Hab. West Africa. 
Ad. M. pusillo similis, sed supra coloribus saturatioribus : fascia pectorali laete cserulea nec nigra et guise lateribus 
albis facile distinguendus : rostro et pedibus nigris, iride rubra. 
Juv. M. pusillo similis, sed major et gulae lateribus albidis. 
Adult (Omoro, Gaboon). — Resembles 11. pusillus, but has the upper parts rather darker ; 
the band across the lower throat is deep blue, and the sides of the throat below the black band 
which passes through and behind the eye are pure white. Legs and bill black ; iris red. Total 
length about 6 inches, culmen 1-25, wing 3'f, tail 2"75, tarsus 015 ; tail very slightly emarginate, 
the outer rectrices being barely longer than the central ones. 
Young (Muni river). — Resembles the young of II. pusillus , but may be distinguished by 
being rather larger, and having the black facial patch bordered below with dull white. 
A 
It is by no means an easy task to define the range of the present species, as it has by so many 
authors been confused with its near ally Melittophagus pusillus and to some extent also with 
Melittophagus lafresnayei ; but, so far as I can ascertain by an examination of the specimens I have 
been enabled to collect together, it is found only in Western Africa, from the Gambia down to 
Loango and Angola. In Captain Shelley’s collection there is a single example labelled by the 
