M ELITTOPH AGUS B O L E S L A VS K 1 1. 
BOLESLAVSKI’S BEE-EATER. 
Merops bullocki, Vierth. Naum arm ia, 1852, p. 41 , partim (nec Yieill.). 
Merops boleslavskii, Von Pelz. Sitzungsb. It. Ak. Wiss. Wien, xxxi. p. 320 (1858) ; Hartl. J. £. O. 1861, p. 107 ; 
Heuglin, Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 206 (1869) . 
Spheconax boleslavskii (Von Pelz.), Cab. Mus. Hein. ii. p. 133 (1859). 
Merops frenatus, Heugl. J. f. O. 1864, p. 335, partim (nec Hartl.). 
Merops boleslavskyi (Von Pelz.), Heuglin, J. f, O. 1864, p. 336. 
Coccolarynx boleslavskii (Von Pelz.), G. II. Gray, Hand-1, of B. i. p. 101, no. 1227 (1869). 
Figura nulla. 
Hab. Northern Africa. 
Ad. M. bullocki persimilis, sed gnla flava nec rubra. 
Adult (Casamance). — Closely resembles Melittophagus bullocki, except that the throat, instead 
of being red, is rich bright yellow. Total length 7'25 inches, culmen l - 5, wing 3'9, tail t'05, 
tarsus 0-5. 
It is with considerable hesitation that I include the present bird as a distinct species, and it is 
more from a lack of sufficient material to form a decided opinion on the subject, than from 
a conviction that it is clearly distinct, that I am compelled to do so. I have, indeed, only been 
able to examine a single specimen, now in the British Museum ; for the bird is so rare that I 
cannot find another in England. At first I thought it might prove to be an immature 
example of Melittophagus bullocki ; but the freshness of the plumage makes it improbable that 
this will be the case, and I also find that in the young of Melittophagus gularis the red throat- 
patch is assumed at once, and is not at first yellow, so that in all probability it will be the same as 
regards Melittophagus bullocki. It is, however, quite possible that the present bird may be a 
peculiar race of M. bullocki ; and I trust that collectors who read this article will use their 
utmost endeavours to obtain the necessary materials to fully elucidate this moot question. 
The range of the present species appears to be about the same as that of Melittophagus 
bullocki , with which it has been found consorting. Von Heuglin states ( l . c.) that he 
frequently obtained it with Melittophagus bullocki in Southern and Eastern Senaar, and looked 
on it as being the young of that species, as it agrees with it in size and (excepting in the 
