363 
during a journey to the Matabili Country. 
found two eggs of this species on the bare ground in an open 
space in the bush; the bird was on the eggs, which were pink, 
spotted all over with greyish brown. 
Merops apiaster, L. 
5 . River Meathly, Bamangwato, October 24, 1873. 
Beak black; legs dark brown; iris crimson. 
This species was only observed on one occasion, when it 
appeared to he migrating. On that day I saw several large 
flocks hawking about after flies and occasionally settling on 
the small bushes. The note of all the Bee-eaters I have met 
with seems to he almost exactly the same. 
Merops pusillus (Miill.). 
6 • Transvaal, November 29th, 1873. 
Beak and legs black; iris dark hazel. 
I saw one or two pairs of this species on the banks of the 
Limpopo on my way up, and another pair or two oh the Sa- 
mouqui river, in the Matabili country. They were plentiful 
in comparatively open country in the north of the Transvaal 
on our way down, and were to he seen sitting, singly or in 
pairs, on a small branch of a bush on the look-out for insects, 
which they caught on the wing. I once saw a small party of 
about eight together. 
Merops bullockoides, Smith. 
6 . Transvaal, July 1st, 1873. 
Beak and legs black; iris dark hazel. 
Common through the north of Transvaal. On my return 
I found them breeding in the hanks of the Limpopo, perhaps 
seven or eight pairs in one colony. 
Coracias NiEviA, Daud. 
<3 . Matabili, October 6th, 1873. 
$ . Transvaal, July 1st, 1873. 
Beak black ; Legs yellow; iris dark hazel. 
Fairly common; generally seen singly or in pairs. It re¬ 
sembles C. caudata in its habits and flight. I have seen the 
young of the latter about the middle of November, evidently 
not long out of the nest; so the Rollers must be amongst the 
earliest breeders. 
