The Bee-Eater. Merops Jive Apiafter.
Numb. XLIV.
IT is for Bignels equal to a Blackbird5 from the Tip of the Bill, to the End of
the Tail, eleven Inches and a half long; Breadth, when the Wings were expanded,
eighteen Inches; in the Shape of the Body it is very like that of the Kingsfijher.
The Bill is great, from the Tip to the Angles of the Mouth almoft two Inches
long, lave only, that it is a little more arch’d or bending downward than that of the
Kingsfijher i the Tongue {lender, deeply cut in or torn at the Tip; the Irides of the
Eyes o f a lovely red, and in fome o f a hazel Colour.
The Head is great and oblong; the Colour o f the Feathers at the Bafe of the upper
chap is white, then yellow and green ; the back Part of the Head of a dark red, but
in fome Birds, o f a green and red Mixture •, from the Corners of the Mouth, through
the Eyes on each Side, is extended a black Stroak, contiguous whereto under the
Chin are bright but pale yellow Feathers; the Neck, Breaft, Belly, and Thighs of
a blueifh green; the fcapular Feathers green with a Mixture of red, in fome the Colour
of the under Side is blue.
The Number o f beam Feathers in each Wing, is about twenty one or twenty two,
o f an orange Colour tipt with black, intermixt with fome green Feathers; the wing
Feathers varied in feveral Birds, in fome blue, in others more red ; the Tail is about
three inches and a half long, made up of twelve Feathers of a green Colour, in fome
blue; the under Side of a dun Colour; the two middlemoft Feathers run out in
'.length beyond the reft, and end in {harp Points.
The Legs are very fhprt, but thick for the Length ; both Legs and Feet exaflly like
thole o f the IJingsfiJher.; for the fore Toes, as in that, are all joined together to the
ijrft Jpint, as if.they were but one T o e; o f a blackifh Colour, in fome of a dusky
r e d ; the Claws black.
The Liver was of a pale yellow; the Stomach rather membranous than mufculous,
in xyhich, when diflp&ed was found Beetles and other Infeds. It feeds not only on
Bees, but upon the Cicada Beetles, and alfo on the Seeds of the Nipplewort, baflard
Parilcy, Turnips, <&c. as Bellontus teftifies.
6
WL,ty u