it makes its forage amongst the insect tribes that are brought out by the morning beams.. This
Bee-eater breeds during the months of April and May, laying its eggs in holes in banks. On the
13th May, 1850,1 found a pair of these birds breeding in a hole in a bank; the hole was more than
an arm's length in depth. At the bottom of it I found three young birds, one very small, with
scarcely any feathers on it, another somewhat larger, and the third of considerable size and
pretty well fledged. There was no nest."
Mr. Scully shot a specimen in the valley of Nepal in March, and adds (I. c.) that it was
common about Iletoura, in the Dun, and in the plains of Nepal near the Tarai in winter.
Dr. Fairbank found it abundant at the base of the Palani hills and in the adjacent plains. Vidal
records it as abundant at Kelshi and Ratnagiri in South Koukan. Stoliczka obtained it in
Southern Kulu in summer; and Mr. Inglis found it very common in North-eastern Cachar, between
August and April.
Mr. Cripps says (Str. Feath. vii. p. 258) that it is a " very common and permanent resident
(in Eastern Bengal). I have found several of then- nest-holes during March and April with
from four to five eggs in each. On one occasion I pressed out an egg (without a shell) from
the oviduct of a female in the way described by Mr. Adam i n ' Nest and Eggs,' p. 101. All
the holes I found were on dead level plains, although in one or two instances the high river-banks
were close alongside the holes." Mr. Ball (I. c ) , in bis notes on the birds observed between the
Ganges and Godaveri, records it as occurring in the Bajmebal bills, Bardwan, Maunbhuin,
Lohardugga, Singbhum, Sirguja, Sambulpur, north of Mabanadi, Orissa, Nowagarh, and
Karial. It ranges down to the extreme south of India and to Ceylon. Mr. Lloldsworth (1. c.)
found it "exceedingly abundant in the northern part of Ceylon, where it is a resident.
It is also found sometimes at Colombo and on other parts of the coast. Whilst living at
Aripo, I had constant opportunities of observing these birds closely, as the railings of my
veranda were a favourite perebing-plaec for them, and they would allow me to approach within
a few feet without showing any alarm. Forty or fifty of these beautiful birds generally roosted
in a small bushy tree only a few yards from the house. This species seems to prefer a low
station when looking out for its prey, frequently perching on a small stick only a few
inches from the ground." Colonel Legge writes ('Birds of Ceylon,' p. 310):—"The Green
Bee-eater is a resident species and very numerous in all the dry parts of the low country. It is
most abundant about open scrubby land near the sea-coast round the north of the island and
along the south-east and eastern sea-boards. Its habitat seems to be restricted to a nicety
by the influence of climate. It is common in the interior of the northern half of the island,
as well as in the maritime regions, and can be traced along the foot of the western slopes
of the Matale ranges from Dambulla to Kurunegala, and thence across the dry country on the
north of the Polgahawella and Ambepussa hills to Chilaw and Madampe, near which it stops,
not being found south of Nattande. So much docs it avoid a moist atmosphere that it extends
for a few miles south of Kurunegala, on the highroad to Polgahawella, and suddenly vanishes on
the road entering the hills. South of these limits it is unknown throughout the Western
Province and the south-west hill-region, reappearing again just to the eastward of Tangalla,
where the climate again becomes dry; beyond this all round the coast it is common,being
particularly numerous in the Hambantota and Yala districts. I have traced it through the
interior to the foot of the Haputale hills, but it is much scarcer there than at tho sea-coast. In
the Eastern Province it inhabits the high cheenas in the neighbourhood of Bihile, which attain
an altitude of 1000 feet, and which is the highest point I have found it to attain in Ceylon.
Dr. Jcrdon (B. of India, i. p. 205) the Little Green Bee-eater " i s found over the whole of India,
extending to Arrakan, the Indo-Chinese countries, and to Ceylon. It does not ascend mountains,
to any height at least; and the specimen in the British Museum from Mr. LTodgson, marked from
Darjeeling, assuredly never was killed there, though it occurs at the foot of the hills.
" I t is a very common bird, and is a most characteristic adjunct of Indian scenery. It
generaUy hunts, like the Flycatchers, from a fixed station, which may be the top branch of a
high tree or a shrub, or hedge, a bare pole, a stalk of grain or grass, some old building, very
commonly the telegraph-wires, or even a mound of earth on the plain. Here it sits, looking
eagerly around, and on spying an insect, which it can do a long way off, starts rapidly, and
captures it on the wing with a distinctly audible snap of its b i l l ; it then returns to its perch,
generally slowly sailing with outspread wings, the copper burnishing of its head and wings
shining conspicuously, like gold, in the sun's beams. Sometimes it may be seen alone, or in small
parties seated near each other, but hunting quite independently. It frequently takes two or
three insects before it reseats itself on its perch; and in the morning and evening they collect in
considerable numbers, and, often in company with Swallows, hawk actively about for some time.
I have seen one occasionally pick an insect off a branch, or a stalk of grain or grass; and Mr.
Blyth informs me that he had seen a number of them assembled round a small tank, seizing
objects from the water in the manner of Kingfishers.
"They roost generally in some special spot, sometimes a few together in one t r e e ; but at
some stations aE the birds for some miles round appear to congregate and roost in one favoured
locality. The bamboo tope at Saugor is a celebrated spot of this kind: here Crows, Mynas,
Parrakeets, Bee-eaters, Sparrows, &c. collect from miles around; and the noise they make towards
sunset and early in the morning is deafening.
" The Bee-eater has a loud, rather pleasant, rolling, whistling note, which it often repeats,
especially in the morning and towards evening, and often whilst hunting. They sometimes
coUect in small parties towards sunset on a road, and roll themselves about in the sand and dust,
evidently with great pleasure.
" They breed in holes, in banks of ravines or of rivers, and on roadsides, laying two to four
white eggs. Burgess mentions that in a nest that he examined there were three young ones all
of different ages. They breed from March to July according to the locality, earlier in the north
of India, later in the south. Mr. Blyth observed them breeding near Moulmein as late as the
middle of August."
I find this species recorded from many parts of India. Captain Butler says that it occurs
in abundance all over the plains of Northern Guzerat, and he also met with it in considerable
numbers at Aboo, but does not think that it remains on the hills in the hot weather.
I n Oudh and Kumaon it is, according to Col. Irby, " excessively numerous throughout the year:
ten or more may often be seen sitting on the same bush ; and on the telegraph-wires on the Grand
Trunk Road I once saw, in the early morning, upwards of fifty within twenty yards. In one
habit this bird resembles our Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa grisola): it is incessantly flying a
few feet in chase of insects, and settling again on its former perch." Captain Beavan states (I. c.)
that it is " common at Barrackpore in the cold weather, arriving about the end of October.
Breeds in Maunbhoom, where it is tolerably common, at the beginning of April. The eggs, two
in number, are very round and of a pure clear white. The nest-hole is excavated in the ground."
According to Burgess (I, c.) it is " a common bird in the Deccan, but remarkable for its brilliant
plumage, and active, fly-catching habits. It chooses for its perch the outside twig of a tree, whence