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and is generally seen singly or in pairs. I have not observed it on the upper hills. Of two 
Ceylon specimens, with the chestnut border to the black tliroat-hand, one has the tail entirely 
green, and the other with the central feathers blue.” Col. Legge writes (B. of Ceylon, p. 312) : — 
“ This handsome Bee-eater is sparingly dispersed over the island, inhabiting some localities in 
considerable numbers, while in other districts mere stragglers are met with. In the south it is 
common on the G-indurah river, commencing above Baddegama and extending up into the hills 
of the Hinedun Pattu; it likewise frequents the hanks of the Kaluganga, Kelaniganga, and 
Maha-oya in the Western Province, and is found here and there through Saffragam. To the 
north of these localities it is located about Kurunegala, on the Deduru-oya, in the Puttalam 
district, and in isolated spots in the neighbourhood of Dambulla. Mr. Parker has met with it in 
the Anaradjapura district, and it occurs sparingly throughout the northern forests. I have seen 
it between Trincomalie and Mullaittivu, but I do not think it is to he found much to the north 
of the latter place. In the Kandyan Province it is much more common than in most parts of 
the low country, inhabiting the vale of Dumbara, Deltota, Nilambe, Maturatta, and Uva generally. 
It does not ascend to the Nuwara-Elliya plateau.” 
It is said to he common in Assam, Tenasserim, and Burmah. Mr. Armstrong writes (Str. 
Peath. iv. p. 305) that “ it occurred very sparingly in Southern Pegu. During the months of 
November, December, and January I did not meet with any specimen of this species, but during 
the latter end of February I saw several pairs near Elephant Point. They were all remarkably 
shy, and when disturbed flew away quite out of sight.” Mr. Blanford records it as being tolerably 
common in Pegu and Ava ; and according to Mr. Hume it was very common along the forest- 
streams at the foot of Nwalabo in Tenasserim. Mr. Oates speaks of it as being sparingly 
distributed throughout British Burmah; and Major Bingham writes to me as follows : — “ I first 
met with this Bee-eater on the western coast of India, on the banks of the forest-streams in the 
Western Ghats, and not again till in similarly wooded country I found it common near the rivers 
in Tenasserim. Though generally to be observed in the vicinity of water, I have more than once 
come across it in dense forests wherever a break in the jungle afforded clear space for its little 
flights. I have no pleasanter reminiscences of my wanderings in those eastern forests than those 
connected with the abundance of this bird, on the oft-repeated marches that I had to make between 
the large village of Kaukarit on the Houndraw river and the frontier town of Meeawuddy on the 
Thoungyeen, the river which is the boundary between British Tenasserim and the Shan States. 
From Kaukarit a winding jungle-road leads along the bed of the Kaukarit stream, straight up to 
near its source by the Tounjah pass across the Donat mountain-range. Crossing the little stream 
over thirty times, some of the most beautiful little vistas of forest-scenery open one after the other 
at each turn of the road. The forest on both sides of the path is dense evergreen — trees crowding 
on trees on the low steep hillsides, canes and creepers growing in wild luxuriance matting the 
whole together, so as to render any attempt to stray off the beaten track a work of difficulty. 
Amidst all this the rivulet winding in and out creates the breaks in the forest, where, on the 
branches of the trees overhanging its banks, this lovely little Bee-eater can be observed in scores, 
sitting motionless but watchful, or swooping with cheery whistle at the butterflies which assemble 
in myriads at the crossings of the stream, making great patches of gorgeous colour on the wet 
sands. It is wonderfully interesting to watch them dart with sudden sweep at some unwary 
butterfly passing by, seize it with a loud snap of the bill, and return with an easy, graceful sailing 
to their perch, on the way deftly shearing off the wings, which flutter unheeded to the 
ground. 
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