M E R O P S SUMATRANUS.
SUMATRAN BEE-EATER,
Merops sumatranus, Raffles, Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 294 (1821) ; Steph. in Shaw's Gen. Zool. xiii. part 2, p. 73
(1825) ; Gray, Gen. of B. Î. p. 8 6 (1816) ; Blyth, Cat. Mus. As. Soc. p. 52 (1849) ; Gould, P.Z. S. 1859,
p. 151 j Twccddale, Trans. Zool. Soc. ix. p. 151, pi. xxvi. fig. 2 (1875) ; id. Ibis, 1877, p. 297 ; Sharpr, Ibis,
1879, p. 248 ; Hume, Stray Feathers, nil. p. 48 (1879) ; Tiraut, Gull. Soc. Comm. Agric. dc la Cochin Chine,
aér. 8, vol. i. p. 98 (1879).
Merops cyanopyyius, Less. Traité d'Orn. p. 238 (1831).
Le Guêpier de Sumatra, Less. Compl. Buff. ii. Ois. 2nd ed. pl. fig. 2 (1840).
Merops bicolur, Horsfield & Moore, Cat. B. E.I. Co. Mus. i. p. 87 (1854), nee Bodd. ; Mottlcyfc Dilliryn, Contrit).
Nat. Hist. Labuan and Borneo, p. 14 (1855) ; Salvadori, Ucc. Born. p. 90 (1874) ; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1875,
p. 101 ; id. Ibis, 1877, p. 5 ; David & Oust. Ois. de la Chine, p. 73 (1877) ; Kelham, Ihis, 1881, p. 377.
Merops badins, Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 162 (1850), nee Gmcl.; Licht. Nomencl. Av. p. 66 (1854) ; Schlegel,
Mus. Pays-Bas, Merops, p. 3 (1863, partim) ; Sclater, P. Z. S. I8C3, p. 213 ; Pclzeln, Novara Bcisc, Vog. i.
p. 50 (1865) ; Kelliam, Ibis, 1881, p . 377.
Melitlophas bicolor, Cab. Mus. Hein. ii. p. 157 (1859), nec Bodd.; Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 99, no. 1202 (1869,
? Melitlophas cklorokmus, Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 99, no. 1203 (1869).
Merops roclteckouardi, Ileudc, Ann. Sc. Nat. 1873 [from label on specimea in Paris Museum].
Figura unica.
Twceddalc, Trans. Zool. Soc. ix. pi. xxvi. fig. 2.
HAD. China, Cochin China, Malay peninsula, Java, Sumatra, and Borneo.
Ad. Meropi bicolori persimilis, sed capite et dorso valde saturation!)as ; racato ct gula saturate nerulcis nec viridi
tinctis,
Juv. capite, nucha et dorso saturate viridibus nec eastancis : mcnto ct gula sordide ca-rulcis vii viridi tinetis:
abdominc imo alho pallidii viridi tincto; subcaudalibus ca^rulco tiuctis, rcctricibus ceotralihus non elongatis.
Adult male (Qualla Kangsa, Pcrak, 25th February).—Resembles Merops bicolor, but lias
the head, neck, and hack much darker, the colour being deep rich chestnut-brown, with an almost
coppery tinge; upper throat deep blue, without any trace of green, the blue being sharply divided
from the green on the rest of the undcrparts; bill, legs, and iris as in Merops bicolor. Total
length about 9], inches, culmen 1-55, wing 4'4, tail 5-3, central rcctrices extending 2'1 inches
beyond the lateral ones, tarsus 0-5.
Adult female (Cebu).—Does not differ from the male in coloration of plumage.