MELITTOPHAGUS MUELLER I. 
RED-THROATED BLUE BEE-EATER. 
Meropiscus mulleri, Cassia, Journ. Ac. Sci. Phil. 1857, p. 37 ; Cab. Mus. Hein. ii. p. 132 (1859) ; Gray, PIand-1. 
of B. i. p. 98, no. 1198 (1869). 
Merops mulleri (Cass.), Hartiaub, Om. Westafr. p. 262. 
Meropogon mulleri, Cassin, Journ. Ac. Sci. Phil. ser. 2, iv. p. 322, pi. 49. fig. 2 (1860). 
Nyctiornis mulleri (Cass.), Giebel, Thes. Orn. ii. p. 734 (1875). 
Figura unica. 
Cassin, Journ. Ac. Sci. Phil. ser. 2, iv. pi. 49. fig. 2. 
Hab. Gold Coast. 
Ad. capite et collo cum corpore subtus, supra- et subcaudalibus saturate cseruleis, vix nigro notatis : stria per oculos 
dncta et regione parotica nigris : gula vivicle coccinea : dorso cum alis supra saturate ferrugineis, remigibus 
saturatioribus : caucla nigra, saturate cseruleo lavata : rostro nigro : pedibus nigro-fuscis : iride rubra. 
Adult (Fantee). — Head, neck, under parts generally, and the under and upper tail-coverts rich 
cobalt-blue, the black of the basal portion of the feathers showing through here and there, more 
especially on the head and nape ; a streak through the eye and the ear-coverts black ; throat- 
patch rich deep vermilion-red, verging on carmine-red ; hack and wings deep foxy rufous, the 
quills rather darker ; tail black, washed with cobalt-blue ; hill black ; legs blackish brown ; iris 
deep red. Total length about 6 - 5 inches, culnien 1*32, wing 3T8, tail 2'9, tarsus 0't : first quill 
short, nearly an inch shorter than the second ; third and fourth longest ; second shorter than fifth. 
It is a somewhat difficult matter to write the history of a bird about which so little is known as 
the present species. First obtained by DuChaillu on the Muni river, in W est Africa, it was for 
long only known from there, the single example obtained by him being for some time unique ; 
but subsequently one example was sent from Fantee to Mr. It. Bowdler Sharpe, and is now in 
the British Museum ; and a third specimen came in a small collection from the Gold Coast to 
Capt. G. E. Shelley. Beyond these three I do not know of any specimens in existence, and all 
being, so far as we can judge, in adult dress, the immature plumage of this rare Bee-eater is 
unknown. It appears to he most nearly allied to Melittophagus gularis, and probably closely 
resembles that species in its habits ; but I find nothing whatever on record respecting its general 
habits, note, or mode of nidification. 
