three at one shot, which, evidently tired from their transit, were packed close to each other on a prominent
twig of a mimosa, in the compound of my garden. This bird builds in holes of steep banks near rivers.
At Cawnpore it has taken possession of a steep bank, in the face of which it has perforated numerous holes.
It flies exceedingly high, and frequently utters a little cliiruk-chiruk. It goes forth of a morning and returns
to these holes at night in great numbers, but does not fly in flocks, though many may be observed in the
air at one time.”
Mr. Layard, in his ‘ Notes on the Ornithology of Ceylon,’ informs us that “ this Bee-eater is very common
throughout the island during the period of its visitation; it is the harbinger of the Snipe, and appears about
the middle of September.
“ It frequents open fields, perching on fences, or on the tops of low bushes, always choosing a dry projecting
twig from which to dart at any insect that may pass by, returning with an elegant sailing flight; before the
prey is devoured it is beaten against the perch till sufficiently broken to be swallowed entire. In the evening
it frequently pursues insects after the manner of swallows, uttering the while a pleasing chiruping note, and
soaring to a great height in the air.”
Capt. R. C. Tytler mentions that at Barrackpore, it “ is a well-known cold weather visitor, and is less
common than the M. viridis.”
Mr. Blyth has “ been informed that M. Philippinus may occasionally be seen in the vicinity of Calcutta,
but is rare.”
A fio-ure of this species occurs among the drawings of the late Hon. F. J. Shore, with the following note:
“ Futtehgurli, Oct. 11, 1833.—Does not appear to be near so common as M. viridis. The colours vary
in every light between blue, green, bronzed, gilded, &c.”
Latham mentions that “ it is sometimes caught alive, and that attempts have been made to keep it in
cages; but it seldom survives long, as it feeds only on the wing and on living insects.”
Head, neck, back and wing-coverts coppery-green; lores, stripe beneath the eye and ear-coverts black,
bounded above, from the nostrils to the centre of the eye, by a narrow streak of verditer-blue, and below by
a broader streak of blue; rump and upper tail-coverts greenish-blue; primaries dark brown, margined
externally with coppery-green at the base and blue-green towards the end, and tipped with brownish-black;
secondaries rufous, margined externally with coppery-green and tipped with brownish-black; tertiaries
bluish-green ; tail bluish-green with brownish-black shafts, the elongated portion of the two central feathers
black; chin yellow; throat deep chestnut; sides of the neck and breast coppery-green, gradually passing
into grass-green on the abdomen, which again passes into pale blue on the vent and under tail-coverts; under
surface of the wing deep fawn-colour; irides deep red; bill black; feet purplish-black.
So little difference occurs in the outward appearance of the sexes, that I question if actual dissection must
not be resorted to, to distinguish the one from the other.
The figures are of the natural size.