I. MEROPS BULLOCKOIDES.
2. NUBICOIDES.
MEROPS BOLLOCKOIDES. 99
94. M erops n u b ic o id e s . Carmine-throated Bee-eater.
Plate IV, fig. 2.
Merojps nubicus, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 69.
This is a species seldom met with in collections, and as far as we
are aware, rarely occurring in the colony itself. M. Jules Verreaux,
however, informs us that he procured a stray specimen at Genaden-
hal, near Caledon. The Editor’s collection contained a single
specimen from Port Natal, and this is now in the British Museum.
Mr. Ayres forwarded a specimen from the Transvaal to Mr. Gurney,
“ shot on the Pindais River, about 130 miles to the north of Pot-
chefstroom, by Mr. Button, who states that there were many of
them together.” In the Zambesi region, according to Dr. Kirk,
they were rather local both in the Zambesi and Shire, but on the
former river they were discovered in colonies, tunnelling their
nests in the river-banks. Mr. Andersson writes:—“ I have only
once observed this species, when a specimen occurred a few days’
journey south of the river Okavango : its appearance on the wing
was beautiful. I understood from the hunters that at certain seasons
this Bee-eater is common on the Okavango, and breeds on the banks
of that river.”
Its large size and ruddy coloration ought to distinguish this
species at a glance. Unfailing characters are its red tail and pink
undersurface, in which no other South African Bee-eater resembles
it. Total length, 13\7 inches; wing, 5 '8 ; tail, 4-4 ; tarsus, 0'5 f
middle tail-feathers, 7’8.
95. M erops bullockoides . White-fronted Bee-eater.
Plate IY, fig. 1 .
This species was originally obtained by Sir A. Smith in 25° S.
lat., north of which it was not uncommon. “When observed,” he
Says, it was perched upon the tops of trees, along the immediate
banks of rivers, or in the act of making short circuits through the
air, apparently in chase of flying insects.” Mr. David Arnot, of
Colesberg, has forwarded several examples to the South African
Museum, all of which were obtained in the Orange Free State. Mr.
T. E. Buckley found them breeding in the banks of the Limpopo,
and in the Transvaal he also procured specimens on the 1st and 2nd
of July ‘ and in the same district Mr. Ayres has noticed them. He
i 2