In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : —
E Mus. H. E. Dresser.
b, ? . Damara Land (Anderssou). e, <i . Kabaconeri, 7th July, 1866 (Andersson). d. Transvaal (Ayres). e, <J.
Zambesi (Bradshaw). /, g, h. South Africa [Whitely).
E Mm. Brit.
? . Damara Land, b, ? . Port Natal [Gould), c. River Gambia (Strachan). d,£. Victoria Falls, Zambesi,
12th Jannary, 1876 (Oaten), e. Zanzibar (Moir). ƒ,<?. Potehefstroom, 2nd June, 1877 (Ayres). g. Ilcnguela
{Monteiro). h, ¡7. Objinibinquc, 2nd July, 1808 (Aiidersson).
E Mus. Paris.
Cape of Good Hope (Voreaux). b. Senegal (Mdlle. Rhone), c. Hanks of White Nile (M. d'Arnaud).
E Mm. Twceddale.
Lake Ngami (Chapman), b. Ohjimhinquc, 23rd November, 1864 (Andersson). c, S . Objimbinquc, 22nd July,
18GG (Andersson). d. M'bidgen, Africa, March 1873. e. Rupiquc, Africa, January 1873.
E Mas. D. Seebohm.
tf. Potehefstroom, 10th June, 1877 (Ayres).
G e n u s MELirrOPIIAGUS.
Apiaster, Rrisson, Orn. iv. p. 532 (1760, |iarthu).
Meraps, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 403 (1788, partim).
Meliltaphagus, Uoie, Isis, 1828, p. 316. Type M. pusillus.
Meropiseus, Sundevall, GOfv. K. Vct.-Ak. Forb. 18-13, p. 162. Type 31. gutaris.
Xyctiuniis, Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. S. p. 161 (1850, partim).
Sphecophobus, Reichenhach, Mcrapinic, p. S2 (18,12). Type M. pusillus.
Corcolurynx, Rciehenbach, Mcropiiue, p. 83 (1852). Type M. bidloclci.
Urica, Bp. Consp. Volucr. Auisod. p. 8 (18j4). Type M. quinticolor.
Spheconax, Cabanis, Mus. Heiu. ii. p. 133 (1853). Type M. bullockoides.
Meliltias, Cabanis, Mus. llcin. ii. p. 134 (1853]. Type At. Irsc/ienaulti.
IIAB. Ethiopian and Iudo-Malayau Regions.
Alis brcvihus ; rcmigc priml brcvissimll, tertift longissimfi, si cundii et quart! rix hrevmribus! Otodl incunspicue
cmarginata : rostro lougo, curvato, attcnuato: juguli plumis nee clougatis : pedtbus brcvihus, robustii.
Bill long, rather slender, curved, rather stout at the base and attenuated towards the tip,
which is sharp-pointed; nostrils roundish, nasal membrane short. AVings moderate, rather short
than otherwise, broad, the first quill short, much shorter than the secondaries, the third longest,
the second and fourth rather shorter and equal; secondaries long, the elongated inner secondaries
verv long, extending slightly beyond the fifth quill. Tail moderately long, nearly even, being
slightly cmarginatc, the outer feathers slightly inclined outwards. Feet small, rather stout, the
lower part of the tibia sparsely leathered; tarsus seutellato; toes moderate, rather stout than
slender, the anterior parallel and partly united ; claws moderately slender, curved, compressed,
acute.—Type Mcliitophagus pmillm.
TriE present genus contains eleven species, nine of which inhabit the Ethiopian Region, and the
other two (M. leschenaidli and M. quinticolor) the Inilo-Malayan Region.
Like then' allies they are gregarious, hut not so much so as the species belonging to the
genus Merops, and are seldom seen in large flocks. They frequent swampy and marshy
loealities and the hanks of rivers, and feed on insects, which they capture on the wing. Their
flight resembles that of their allies, and like them their call-note is harsh and monotonous. They
nest in holes in the ground, usually near water, and excavate their own ncst-holcs. Then- eggs
are roundish, glossy in texture, and pure white in colour.