130 
Adult female. — Does not differ in plumage from the male. 
Young (Rustenberg). — Differs from the adult in being much paler in coloration, in having 
the throat pale reddish and not deep red, and the crissum and under tail-coverts pale blue. 
The White-fronted Bee-eater inhabits the southern portion of the continent of Africa, hut has 
been recorded from as far north as the Gaboon on the western side of that continent by Du- 
Chaillu, who met with it at Cape Lopez. Messrs. Sharpe and Bouvier record its capture at 
Malimbe. Welwitsch obtained it in Angola, and according to Professor Barboza du Bocage it 
has been procured by Anchieta on the river Cunene at Huille, in Mossamedes and Humbe, hut 
it does not appear to have ever been observed by Andersson in Damara Land. It was first 
described by Sir A. Smith, who writes ( l . c .) : — ■“ It was not until the expedition attained the 
25° of south latitude that this bird was discovered, though north of that it appeared not 
uncommon. When observed, it was generally either perched upon the tops of trees, along the 
immediate banks of rivers, or in the act of making short circuits through the air, apparently 
in chase of flying insects. As may be inferred from the structure of its wings, it is not a bird 
which flies for any great length of time without resting ; it seeks its food during frequent 
low and short flights, and after each of these often returns to the perch from whence it proceeded. 
In respect of its habits, as well as its wings, it closely resembles Merops erythropterus , Linn. ; 
but, in regard to both these characters, it differs from the other species of the genus yet observed 
in South Africa. Upon the modified structure of the wings in this species and Merops 
erythropterus may depend the circumstance of their being permanent inhabitants of the 
districts where they are found, and where they encounter a cold during the winter much more 
severe than ever occurs farther to the southward, and from which the Merops apiaster, Linn., 
Merops savignii, Levaill., and Merops chrysolaimus, Jard., fly towards the end of summer. Prom 
observations I have had occasion to make, I think it probable that the migrations, both of birds 
and quadrupeds, will be found often to depend more upon causes which have hitherto been com- 
paratively overlooked, than upon any absolute deficiency of food in the countries from whence 
they retire. Connected with this opinion, I may instance the circumstance of a species of 
Swallow, which inhabits the mountains of the Cape Colony during the summer months, repairing 
in the winter to the vicinity of houses, left by another species on the approach of the cold season. 
It there finds food sufficient for its support, till the other species, gifted with more vigorous power 
of flight and a superior courage, returns and drives it back again to situations which it had for a 
time abandoned.” 
Mr. Layard says (B. of S. Afr. p. 70) that he received several specimens through Mr. David 
Arnot of Colesberg, which were procured in the Orange Pree State. Mr. T. E. Buckley (Ibis, 
1874, p. 363) found this species breeding on the banks of the Limpopo, perhaps seven or eight 
pairs in one colony, and he adds that he found it common throughout the north of the Transvaal. 
Mr. Ayres records it as exceedingly common round Rustenberg in the Transvaal, and he also pro- 
cured it from the Monocusi river in Natal. Oates met with it on the Crocodile river in Matabele 
Land ; and Livingstone (Miss. Travels, p. 248) found this Bee-eater, and also Merops apiaster, 
breeding in society in holes in the banks of the river Leeambye in November and December. 
It is found on the east coast as far north as the Zambesi, where it was obtained by Sir J. Kirk. 
