BLUE THROATED &REEN BEE EATER
M E R O P S CTANOPHRYS
M E R O P S CYANOPHRYS.
BLUE-THROATED GREEN BEE-EATER.
PkMhnt eyanophrys, Cab. Mas. Hein. iL p. 137 (1859-60); Gray, Hand-I. of B. i. p. 100, no. 1212 (1869).
Merop* cyanophrys (Cab.), Heugl. Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 203, pi. ri. (1869); Hartlaub, P.Z.S. 1881, p. 957.'
Merops cupreus, Ehr. in Mus. Berol.
Figum unica.
Heuglin, Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. pi. vi.
IIAB. Arabia, Scnaar.
Ad. supra Isctc psittacino-viridis : nucha vix rufcsccnti lavata r fronte, sapereiliis et guht pnlchre turcino-crcruleis:
loris et stria transoculari nigris: corpora subtiis vi rid i - c* rules eentc, supra et subcaudalibus nuvis eierulcis
remigibus primariis in pogonio extcrno viridibus, et in pogonio intmio rufcscenti-uiaiiamonieis et ni"rieanti
fumoso apicatis: sccundariis rufcsccnti-cinuamomeis, cxtiis vircscenti lavatis et nigro apicatis: cauda viridi
rectricibus ceutralibus clongatis.
Juv. sordidior : gul/l viridi-cajrulca : torque pectorali vix indicate : corporc subtiis sordidu viridi-albido: rectricibus
centralibus nee clongatis.
Adult (Gumfudde, no. 0 3 8 9 : type).—Upper parts generally rich parrot-green, slightly washed
with reddish on t h e nape and t h e fore part of t h e h a c k ; a narrow frontal line and a tolerably
broad s n p c r c i l i um r i c h b l u e ; lores and auricular region b l a c k ; chin and throat brilliant blue, on
t h e lower part of t h e throat crossed b y a black band ; breast and underparts generally blue-green,
fading o n t h e u n d e r tail-coverts to d u l l bluish ; primary-quills green on tho outer web and dull
reddish o n t h e i n n e r web, t i p p e d with dull b l a c k i s h ; secondaries with the reddish colour brighter
and e x t e n d i n g partly over t h e o u t e r web, a l l being broadly terminated with black; inner
secondaries a n d s c a p u l a r s w i t h the wing-coverts similar to the dorsal feathers; tail square, tho
two central rectrices extending nearly an i n ch beyond the r e s t ; rcctriccs green, narrowly margined
on t h e inner web w i t h dull r u f o u s ; beak blackish, rather stout at tho base and bowed; legs
b r o w n i s h ; iris red. Total l e n g t h 7 $ i n c h e s without beak, culmen 1'3, from nostril to t ip 1 0 ,
w i n g 3-8, t a i l t o t i p o f c e n t r a l r e e t r i x 1 2 , tarsus 0-48.
Young (Gumfuddc, no. 9388).—Resembles t h e adult bird, but is much paler, t h e colours,
especially o n t h e upper parts, h a v i n g a washed-out appearance; the blue stipcrcilium is clearly
o