GREY AND RED BEE EATER
MEROPS MAUHB1CUS
M E R O P S MALIMBICUS.
GREY-AND-RED BEE-EATER.
Merops bicolor, Daudin, Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. ii. p. 410, pi. G3. fig. 1 (1803, neo Bodd.) ; Vieill. Tabl. Encycl. et
Méth. p. 390 (1820) ; Gray, Gen. of B. i. p. 80 (184G) ; Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 162 (1850) ; Yon Müller,
J. f. 0 . 1855, p. 10; Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Merops, p. 7 (1863) ; Hartlaub, Orn. Westafr. p. 41 (1857) ;
Reicbcnow, J. f. O. 1875, p. 19 ; id. J. f. O. 1877, p. 21 ; Bocage, Orn. d'Angola, p. 89 (1881).
Merops malimbicus, Shaw, Nat. Misc. jcrii. pi. 701 (1806) ; id. Gen. Zool. viü. pt. 1, p. 174 (1811) ; Steph. in
Shaw's Gen. Zool. xin. pt. 2, p. 75 (1825) ; Lesson, Traite d'Orn. p. 237 (1831) ; Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ.
2nd ser. part ii. p. 319 (1834) ; Ussher, Ibis, 1874, p. 48.
Le Guêpier gris-rose, Levaillant, Hist. Nat. Guêp. p. 28, pi. 5 (1807).
Tephrteraps bic/ihr, Kciclicubacb, Mcrupmie, p. K2 (1852, ncc ISodd.).
Tephrterops malimbicus (Shaw), Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 100, no. 1215 (1869).
fflgura %
Daudin, Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. ii. pi. 62. fig. 1; Shaw, Nat. Misc. xvii. pi. 701; Levaillant, Hist. Nat. Gufip. pi. 5 ;
Selchenbach, pi. cccclii. figs. 3256, 3257.
HAB. West Africa.
Ad. supra saturate sehistacco-cineiTus, supracaudalibus vix rubro tiuctis: rc.migibus nigris, intimis apicihus emarginatis:
cauda rufescenti-fuseíi, schistaceo lavata: víttíl suboeulari cum regione paro tieft nigris, mentó et vittä
sub vittä suboculari albis : gutture et corpore subtüs bete rosaeeo-cocciueis, abdomiae irao cum subcaudalibus
: alis et canda subtiis sordidé fumoso-cincrcis: rostro uigro : pedibus fuscis i iride rubra.
Juv. adulto similis, scd cauda magis cincreo tiucta ct corporc subtiis sordidiorc, vittft alba in gala; latcribus angustiore:
rectricibus ccutralibus vix clongntis : iride nit'esccnti-fuscii.
Adult male (Abouri).—Entire upper parts dark slaty grey, slightly tinged with red on the
upper tail-coverts; quills black, the inner ones from the sixth notched at the tip; tail reddish
brown with a grey tinge; lores and a stripe passing below the eye and extending over the earcoverts
black; chin and a broad stripe bordering the black stripe pure white; underparta rich
rose-red; lower abdomen and under tail-coverts ashy grey; under surface of wings and tail smoky
grey; bill black; feet brown; iris red. Total length about 9 inches, eulmen 1-8, wing E'C5,
tail y-3 (central rectrices extending 1*8 beyond the lateral ones), tarsus 0"5.
Young ("West Africa).—Tail much more strongly tinged with grey than in the adult; underpays
duller in colour and the white on the chin and sides of the throat less extensive; central
tail-feathers but slightly elongated ; iris reddish brown.
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