FQRSTENS BEE EATER
MEROPOGON FORSTENI
M E R O P O G O N F O R S T E N!
FORSTE N'S BEE-EATER
Meropt fortteni, Temminck in Mus. Lugd.; Bdhlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Meropa, p. 8 (1863); Meyer, J. f. Oni.
1871, p. 231.
Meropogon forsleni, Bp. Consp. Gen. A T . i. p. 164 (1850, ex Temm. MSS.) ; Gray, Hand-I. of B. i. p. 98, no. 1199
(1869); Meyer, J. f. O. 1872, p. 405 j Twceddalc, Trans. Zool. Soc. viii. p. 42 (1872); Gould, B. of Asia,
part xxv. (1873); Meyer, Ibis, 1879, p. 58.
Pogtmomrrops forstrni (Bp.), Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. ii. p. 132, footnote (1859-60).
Nyctiornis forsteni (Bp.), Giebel, Thcs. Orn. ii. p. 733 (1875).
Figttra unica.
Gould, B. of Asia, part xxv.
E o . Celebes.
3 ad. pileo, capitis lateribus ct jugnlo cum abdoniinc intense azurcis : corpore supra, alis et rcctricibns central ilins
clongatis, saturate psittaciuo-viridibus: rcmigibus primnriis in pogom'o iutemo sonlide nigro margiuatis ct
eodem colore opicatis: rcctricilius (ccntralibus execptis) eastancis, extends rix viridi margiuatis: nbdominc
into sordide nigra : snbcaudalibus sordide eastancis : rostro ct pedibus nigrieaiitibus : iridc coecinca.
? similis, scd sordidior.
Adult (Burukan).—Fore part of the crown, forehead, sides of the head, and entire throat,
breast, and fore part of t h e abdomen rich deep glossy cohalt-hlue ; hinder crown, nape, and neck
blackish brown ; entire upper parts with the two central elongated rectriees deep glossy parrotgreen
; wings deep green, the shafts of the feathers black, the primaries internally margined and
tipped with dull black; tail (except the two central rectriees) deep fox-red, the outer feather
on each side with the outer web dark dull green ; under wing-coverts white, except the border of
the wing, which is dull green; lower abdomen dull blackish brown; under tail-coverts dull
coppery brown, marked with green ; bill black ; legs dull black ; iris crimson. Total length about
12 inches, eulmen 2*1, wing4'5, tail 7*1, tarsus 0 1 5 , central rectriees extending 8 'M inches beyond
the lateral ones.
Adidt female.—Similar to the male, but duller in colour.
THE present species, one of the rarest of the Bee-caters, is, so far as we know, confined solely to
Celebes. For a long time the specimen at Leyden was the only one known to exist, and this