M E R O P S NUBICOIDES.
C A K H I N E - T H B O A T E D B E E - E A T E B.
Meropt siipirbtis, Vicill. NOHV. Diet. xiv. ]>. 23 (181C).
Merops »„bic„ides, Dcs Km, Rev. Zool. 1816, p. 243; Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 161 (1850); Von Mull. J. f. O.
1855, p. 10; Kirk, Ibis, 1864, p. 3 2 4 ; G. R. Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 100, no. 1214 (1869); FinscL &
Hartlaub, Vog. Ost-Afr. p. 185 (1870), Andcrwon, B. of Damara Land, p. 02 (1872); Gurney, Ibis, 1873,
p. 255; Ayrca, Ihis, 1874, p. 102; Sbarpe, in Layard's B. of S. Afr. 2nd ed. p. 99 (1875-81); Bocagc',
Jorn. Sc. Ac. Lisb. xxix. p. 63 (1880); Bocage, Orn. d'Angola, p. 537 (1881); Sliarpc, mOates'l Matabclc Land,
p. 301 (1881); Sbcllcy, Ibis, 1882, p. 242.
Mt/iltotheret natalauU, Reiclicub. Merapiurc, p. 82 (1852).
MeHttotfteres nubicoidet (Dcs M.), Bp. Consp. Volucr. Anisodact. p. 8 (1854).
Meropt natalensis, Reiclienb. Meropiiue, p. 78 (1852); Cab. Mas. Hcin. ii. p. 142 (1859); Seblegel, Una. Part-Baa,
Meropt, p. 7 (1863).
Merops nubicus, Layard, B. of S. Afr. p. 69 (1867, nee Gmcl.).
Inconjaiii, Matabclc.
F'tgura notabiles.
Rcicbenbaeli, Meropina-, pi. ccecli. figs. 3252, 3253; Sliar|w, in Layard'* B. of S. Afr. pi. iv. fig. 2.
HAD. Southern Africa.
Ad. M. niiiArii pcrsiniilis, scd mcnto et gulft late rociiiieis nee iii'i-uk'is : rnstro nigni: jicdibiis [iluuihi'o-griscis:
iride rubra vel rubra-fusca.
Jus. pilco sordide nigricantc viridi-carulco notato : corpora supra cum aliis surdiiR1 ruii'«iviitLbus : ri-i>iii;ihtiH iiigrnfusco
apicatis, primariis extends in pugonio cxtcrno versus apicem viridi-ciurulci) lavatis ct secundarii* iutiniU
cum scapularihlls sordide caeruleo lavatis: eaudfi fiiseii-rufcseciiti', iviliicibus cciitrulilms vix clongati* : villa1
per oculos ducta nigra: mcnto albido, gula ca?rulea: corpora cum alis snhtu- rufcM-ciiti-ccrviuis : crisso cum
subcaudalibus pallide et sordide caTllleis: uropygm it Mipracaudalibus cieruleis.
Adult male (Zambesi).—Resembles the adult of Merops nubicus in coloration in every
respect except that the entire chin and throat below the black eye-stripe is rielt red, rather brighter
than the rest of the undcrparts, instead of blue. Bill black ; legs, feet, and claws neutral tint,
and feet covered with whitish scales; iris red (aitctt.), iris dark hazel (Oates). Total length
about 13 inches, eulmen 1*6, wing G, tail 7*7, tarsus 0 5 : central rectriccs extending 3*5 beyond
the lateral ones; first wing-quills longest, and about 0'35 inch longer than the second.
Adult female.—Resembles the male.
Juv. (Transvaal).—Crown dull blackish, most of the feathers margined and tipped with blue,