I t appears to be tolerably common in Siam and on the Malay peninsula. Dr. Meyer writes
(' Ibis,' 1879, p. 57) that " In the Miuahassa this bird is only plentiful at certain times, viz. in
the diy season during the east monsoon; in the west monsoon it is rarely to be met with. In
Limbotto I got it in July, in Makassar in October, 1871, later in Singapore, in December 1871,
on Luzon in February 1872, on Negros (Philippine Islands) in March 1872." I have examined
specimens from Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and the Celebes, which agree closely with others from
India, Burmab, and the Philippine Islands; and Lord Twecddale remarked that " specimens from
the Philippines in no respect differ from Luzon and Negros individuals, or, indeed, from examples
from any part of the Indian region," and ho odds that it has not hitherto been recorded from
Zebu. Mr. Mottley writes (P. Z. S. 1803, p. 213) that in Borneo " it is a very common bird in
open places, sailing in circles to hunt the larger Coleóptera and Hymenoptera. It also makes
great havoc among the dragonffies with which the air is sometimes filled here. When these
birds have seized their prey, they return to their stand, usually a bare high branch, and there
kill it by beating it against the twigs. Great numbers of them may sometimes be seen together
in the evening flying in one direction, uttering the cry {pink-pink} which gives their name."
Before concluding the notes on the range of this Bee-cater, I must remark that it has
been included in the British list; but I think there must be some mistake in the matter.
Mr. Hancock writes (B. of Northumb. &. Durh. p. 28) that he examined a specimen, belonging
to the Bev. T. M. Hicks, whieh was shot near the Snook, Seaton Carcw, in August 1862, by
Mr. Thos. Hann, of Byer's Green. Thanks to the courtesy of Mr. nicks, I have had an opportunity
of examining this bird and comparing it with my specimens, aud I also took advantago
of this opportunity to exhibit it at a meeting of the Zoological Society. There is no doubt that
the specimen is an old bird of Mcrops philippimts in very perfect plumage; but how a bird
with the power of flight of the present species, which has not been hitherto observed west
of Sindh, can have come alive over to our island, I cannot imagino: it may have been
" changed at nurse" when in the possession of the bird-stuffer, for it is well known that,
owing to a similar mistake, the American Waxwing has also been erroneously included in
the British list.
Speaking of the habits of this Bee-eater, Dr. Jerdon says {I. c.) that " it is mostly i
in scattered parties, perching on high trees, often among paddy-fields, and it in general takes a
much longer circuit than Mcrops viridis before returning to its porch. I have often seen one
seated on a low palisade, or stump of a tree overhanging a nullah or back-water, every now aud
then picking an insect off the surface of the water.
" They feed on wasps, bees, dragon-flies, bugs, and even on butterflies, whieh I havo seen this
species frequently capture. The flight of this Bee-eater is very fine and powerful, now dashing
onwards with rapid strokes, and a velocity that can boat that of a dragon-fly, having captured
which, it flaps along with more measured time, now and then soaring witli outspread wing. The
voice is a full mellow rolling whistle. On one occasion I saw an immense flock of them, probably
many thousands, at Caroor, on the road from Trinchinopoly to the Nilgbiris; they were perched
on the trees lining the fine avenue there, and every now and then sallied forth for half an hour
or so, capturing many insects, and then returning to the trees. These birds were probably
collected there previous to migrating to their breeding-quarters. They nestle, like Mcrops viridis,
in holes in banks of largo rivers. I have not seen in India any of these breeding-haunts, but I
have lately seen them breeding in thousands on the banks of the Irawaddy in Burmab, in April
and May. It would be interesting to know if all the birds of this species that spread themselves
it has quitted the island entirely. In the neighbourhood of Colombo it is chiefly located in large
tracts of paddy-ground and about the great swamp there and Negomho. It is now and then
met with in the cinnamon-gardens."
Davison says (Sir. Feathers, ii. p. 162) that " i t occurs in the Nicobars, but not in the
Andaman group, where it is replaced by M. quinticolor. In habits it dilfers much from both
M. viridis and M. quinticolor; it may be seen for an hour at a time, taking long sailing flights.
I have seen ten or twelve of these birds hawking over the grassy hills in the interior of the island
of Camorta. I was unable to ascertain whether they breed in the Nicohars or not. It is known
to the Nicobarcse by the name of Shale. I saw it at the Cocos, but failed to procure a specimen."
Subsequently, however, to when the above notes were written, it has been recorded by Mr.
Hume (Str. Feath. iv. p. 287) as having been obtained by ltoepstorfl* at Aberdeen, S. Andamaus,
in November. It appears to be somewhat rare in Tcnasserim, but common in Pegu and Burmab.
Mr. Oates says (Str. Feath. iii. p. 19) that it " occurs in large flocks all over Upper Pegu, and is
a constant resident. It is, however, very uncertain in its movements, and appears to be locally
migratory. In the rains there are comparatively few, and these are seen singly in the paddy-fields
perching on bushes. It breeds in all the large nullahs with steep banks, and I lately came across
a large colony in the Irawaddy; but I have hitherto failed to meet with the large colonies
mentioned by Jerdon. It occurs nearly to the summit of the Pegu Hills; hut I did not And it
on the eastern slopes. It oceurs again in the plains near Tonghoo." To this Capt. Feilden adds
that " it breeds inv ast numbers on the banks of the Irawaddy; the young leave the nest at the
beginning of the rains."
Mr. Armstrong, who met with this species in the delta of the Irawaddy, writes (Str. Feathers,
iv. p. 304) that "though tolerably abundant in certain localities, it was by no means general in
its distribution. I have only met with it in a tidal swamp a few miles from Elephant Point, and also
along the course of Deserters' Creek. In this latter locality it was met with in tolerable abundance,
more especially where the margins were bordered with tall Sonnercdia trees. Here numbers of
the species might be seen making wide circles with a strong rapid flight at a great height up in
the air and again returning to perch on the summits of these trees, where they would remain
for a moment or two before starting on a fresh expedition. They kept, as a rule, to the highest
trees, and were very wary and difficult to approach."
Capt. Bingham writes (/. c.) as follows:—" I n March 1877, I found large parties of this
Bee-cater breeding in the sandy banks of the Salwecn at Shwaygoon. It is not uncommon, and
breeds at Kaukarit, on the Houndraw. I observed a pair or two there as late as June the 29th."
Again (Str. Feath. ix. p. 152) he writes : " This bird, being partially migratory, is often overlooked ;
but it is common nearly all the year round at Kaukarit, on the Houndraw river, where it breeds
in April and May in the sandy banks of the Kaukarit Choung. In the Thoungyeen valley
I have procured it at Mccawuddy in June, at Laidawgycr in April, and on the Dawna Pass in
November." According to Mr. Oates (B. of Brit. Burmab, ii. p. 67) it is " found over the whole
of British Burmab, being very abundant in Arrakan and Pegu and somewhat rare in Tcnasserim.
I t appears to be partially migratory in Tcnasserim; but in Pegu I have observed it during the
greater portion of the year, and I think it is resident." It is found in China and Cochin China,
and Tiraut states (I. c.) that it is " very common in Cochin China in all wooded localities."
Strickland records it from Canton. Messrs. David and Oustalet state that it visits Southern China
in the summer season; and Swinboo procured it at Swatow, and says that it is supposed to breed
in the Wcnchang district, N.E. Hainan.