and in old nests one might generally fill a quart pot with the elytra of the Coleoptera on which the
young have been reared. It is called ‘ warwar ’ by the natives, from its cry; and: is mentioned by Russell
as being considered delicate eating by the Syrians.”
Mr. Stafford S. Allen, speaking of the bird as observed by him in Egypt, states th a t it arrives in the
lower part of that country “ early in April, on its way from its winter-quarters in the equatorial regions of
Africa, across the Mediterranean and Asia Minor to Eastern Europe and the shores of the Black Sea, for
the purpose of breeding. It mostly flies in flocks of twenty or thirty, but sometimes in much greater
numbers. While on their way in the daytime they keep a t a considerable height, and sail about like Swallows,
though not so rapidly, descending at night to roost on trees, They utter a sharp twittering cry, which is
often distinctly audible when the birds are almost out o f sight.”
Lieut. It. M. Sperling says, “ this graceful bird is common on the shores of the Mediterranean, and is
certainly one o f the most beautiful members of their avifauna. In the hottest days their bubbling bell-like
notes sound from far off as they float towards you, glittering like green flakes when the sun strikes the varied
tints of their plumage They are generally seen in flocks of about ten o r twelve ; and I noticed: that after
they have been in one place about half an hour, they move off and • b e a t’ in another locality. They leave
Africa for Europe about the 10th of April.”
In his five months’ birds’-nesting in the Eastern Atlas, Mr. Salvin states that “ the B ee-eater is plentiful about
Djendeli, and breeds, boring the hole for its nest, in banks of the river Chemora and the ditches th at drain
the low land near the lake. There the soil is alluvial and soft, and the bird finds little difficulty in making
its excavation. During our stay, I took several nests, and latterly became an adept at knowing a t once which
holes were tenanted, and where and when to dig. A little circumspection is necessary at first; for
not unfrequently the occupant is a toad or snake. The scratchings made by the bird’s feet in passing
in and out, and the absence of fresh earth beneath the orifice, are generally sure indications of the
excavation having been completed, and consequently of the probability of there being eggs within. The
holes usually consist of a horizontal passage about three or four feet in length, with the entrance at
various heights from the level ground. This passage, at first a circular opening, gradually enlarges
horizontally, and ends in a domed chamber o f about a foot in d iam eter; here the eggs are frequently
deposited. Should, however, none be found, it becomes necessary to feel all round the chamber, when in
many instances another passage of about a foot in length will be found communicating with a second chamber
in all respects similar to the first, in this, if it exists, the eggs are placed. The bird makes no n e s t; but
the floor of the chamber is strewn with the legs and wings of Coleoptera in such abundance th at a handful
may be taken up at once. In most instances I caught one o f the old birds in the chamber containing the
eggs; while the hole was being enlarged, it every now and then attempted to escape. The eggs are laid
early in June, and are usually six in number.”
“ A t Jaffa Mr. Chambers fell in with large flocks o f Merops apiaster flying during the whole day at a
great elevation, and only coming down late in the evening to roost in the orange-groves.” Lord Lilford
states th at “ the Bee-eater arrives in Corfu and Epirus in great numbers during the month o f April, and
breeds in the latter country on the banks o f the Kataito River, near Mursyah, and many o ther similar localities.
In all the holes examined, the eggs were laid on the bare sand, without any attempt a t a nest. I several
times observed three, and once or twice four birds fly from the same hole. The parents leave the country
as soon as the youug are able to fly. I have never seen them later than the beginning of August, and I
observed also, during the same month in 1858, that although the banks of Guadalquivir, near San Ju an de
Alfarache, where there was a large colony of this species, were mined in every direction, and exhibited signs
of recent occupation, not a Bee-eater was to be seen.”
Dr. Henry Giglioli, in his paper on the birds observed at Pisa and in its neighbourhood in 1864, says,
“ D uring the first days of May large flocks of the Common Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) passed over the
place, flying northwards. They continually betray their presence by their loud rolling whistle, but rarely stop
near here, unless in the olive-plantations a t the foot of the Monte Pisano.”
Little more need be said except that the sexes are very similar in colour, the female being merely a trifle
less brilliant than the male, and th at the young assume a plumage like that o f the adult from the
time they leave the n e s t; but two years elapse before the central tail-feathers become as long as those
of their parents.
The Plate represents an adult male, of the size of life, and a young bird in the distance.