M ELITTOPHAGUS REVOILI. 
BEVOIL’S BEE-EATEE. 
Merops revoilii, Oustalet in Eevoihs Faune et Flor. Comalis, Ois. p. 5. 
Melittophagus revoili (Oust.), Shelley, Ibis, 1885, p. 398. 
Figura unica. 
Oustalet in Eevoil’s Faunc et Flor. Comalis, Ois. pi. i. 
Hab. Somali-land, Africa. 
Ad. capite pallicle viridi pallidiore sti’iato, plumis versus apicem cfernlco lavato : frontis lateribus et stria super- 
ciliari cseruleis, strii per oculum ducta cum regione parotica nigris : nucha cum dorso supremo rufescenti- 
cervinis, plumis versus apicem viridi-ctcruleo tinctis : dorso imo cum supra- et suhcaudalibus cmruleis : alis 
viridibus, remigibus in pogonio interno et versus apicem fuscis : recti’icibus viridibus vix cseruleo lavatis, 
omnibus (duahus centralibus exceptis) indistincte rufesceute terminatis : capitis lateribus, mento et gula 
albidis, guM ima cum pectore rufescenti-cervinis vix viridi tinctis, subalaribus rufescenti-cervinis : rostro et 
pedihus nigris : iride fusco-rubra. 
Adult (Somali-land). — Crown dull apple-green, most of tlie feathers tipped with pale greenish 
blue, giving the crown a striped appearance ; nape similarly coloured to the crown, hut tinged 
with pale buff ; upper hack and upper surface of the wings dull parrot-green, most of the 
feathers slightly margined with pale blue ; all the quills except the elongated inner secondaries 
washed with blackish grey at the tip ; lower hack light azure-blue, darkening to rich azure-blue on 
the upper tail-coverts; tail dull green, the central rectrices darker and slightly washed with blue; 
lores and a broad patch passing through and behind the eye black, margined above with azure- 
blue ; chin and throat white, becoming pale buff on the lower throat ; rest of the underparts and 
under wing-coverts brownish or golden buff ; under tail-coverts rich azure-blue ; bill and legs 
black; iris brownish red. Total length about 10 inches, culmen 125, wing 3 ‘05, tail 2-85, 
tarsus 0‘42. 
The second specimen from Somali-land is slightly richer in colour, and measures — culmen 1*2, 
wing 2-9, tail 2-8, tarsus 0‘4. 
When I first read the description and saw the plate of the present species, I must confess that 
I was somewhat puzzled and in doubt as to whether it was not the immature bird of some 
already known species, and I deferred from time to time penning this article, trusting that I 
