122 
species ; but though he gave a detailed description of them, showing the distinctive characters, he 
made a most lamentable mistake in describing the Ceylon species as that occurring in Java, 
and the Javan one as occurring in Ceylon. There is no doubt that he had before him a specimen 
from Ceylon and one from J aya ; but as in all probability they were not labelled, and consequently 
got transposed, the mistake must have thus occurred. In any case I fully concur with my friend 
Mr. E. W. Oates, with whom I fully discussed the question when he was writing his 'Birds of 
British Burmah, that ~V ieillot s names for the two species must be retained] but I cannot agree 
with him that the Indian species should bear the specific name leschenaulti, for Vieillot expressly 
states that he named the Javan bird after the traveller of that name, who obtained it in Java. 
Mr. Oates is also in error in surmising that the Javan species was obtained by Lieut. Kelliam 
at Perak, in the Malay peninsula, and was evidently misled by Lieut. Kelham’s description. I 
possess a specimen shot at Perak by that gentleman, which is certainly referable to the Indian 
and not to the Javan species. 
Respecting the habits and nidification of the Javan Bee-eater, I find no data on record ; but it 
doubtless closely resembles its near ally Melittomiagus quinticolor both in its habits and in its 
mode of nidification. 
The specimens figured are those above described and are in my own collection. 
In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 
E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 
a, $ . Bantam, Java, 14th June, 1879 (II. 0. Forbes), b. Java (Schlegel) . c, juv. Java. 
E Mus. Ticeeddale. 
a, b. Java. 
E Mus. G. E. Shelley. 
a. Java (Frank). 
E Mus. E. Scebohm. 
a, $ . Java. 
E Mus. Brit. 
a > S’> h, ? . Java, 1864 (Diard). 
E Mus. Baris. 
a. Sumatra (Diard). 
