MEL1TT0PHAGUS GULARIS.
( y o u n g . )
M E L I T T O P H A G U S GULARIS.
BLACK-BACKED BEE-EATEE.
Meropigulari,, Shaw, Nat. Miae. « . pi. 337 (1798); hi, Gen. Zool. viii. pt. 1, p. 177 (1811); Vicill. Nouv. Diet.
xiv. p. 10 (1810); Steph. in Shaw's Gen. Zool. xiii. pt. 2, p. 75 (1825); Hard. Orn. Westatr. p. 42 (1857);
Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Merops, p. 12 (1803) ; Reichenow, J. f. O. 1875, p. 19.
Melitlophagus gulo.ru (Shaw), Gray, Gen. of B. i. p. 80, pi. xxx. (1846) ; Licht. Norn. AT. p. 66 (1854); Vou
Miillcr, J. f. 0 . 1855, p. 11.
Ahropiscu* gularis (Shaw), Suudevall, Ofv. k. Vet.-Ak. Forh. 1849, p. 162; Cab. Mua. Hein. ii. p. 132 (1869);
Sharpe, Ibis, 1869, p. 385 ; Gray, IIand-1. of B. i. p. 98, no. 1197 (1869) ; Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. p. 4 (1871);
Usshcr, Ibis, 1874, p. 48; Bouvier & Sharpe, Bull. Soc. Zool. de la France, 1876, p. 305; Bocage, Orn.
d'Angola, p. 94 (1881).
Xyctiornis gularit (Shaw), Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 161 (1850).
Figitrw natabiles.
Shaw, Nat. Misc. pi. 337; Gray, Gen. of B. pi. xxx.; Rcicbcubach, Mcropina;, pi. cccclii. figs. 3258, 3259.
HAD. M'cst Africa.
Ad. niger, frontc, stria supcrciliosa et stria suboculari turcino-ca:ruleis ct regioue parotica codera colore notata:
suprit- ct KiiE,i';Liitl:Lliljii-. cum crisso turcino-ca'ruleis : eorpore nubtus eodeni colore striato ct guttato : remigilius
primariis duahus extends nigris, reliquis castniico-rufis, pogonio cxterno nigro marginatis et tcruiiuatis :
secundaria iutiinis clougatis, nigris, cscnileo marginatis : cauda nigra, rcctricilms duahus ccntralibus turciuo
marginatis: mcnto et gala splendide rubris : pcdilius nigru-l'uscis : rostro tiigro : iride rubrfl.
Jw. saturate ct sordide nigcr, dorso vix viridi-ca;rulco lincto ; uropygio ct suprneaudalibus sordide cieruleis: alis
et cauda sicut in adulto color at is, scd sordidioribus : mcuto ct gala sordide nigris vix viridi-amco tiuclis ct
indistincte rubro notatis : pectore et eorpore subtus sordide earuleo notatis.
Adult male (Fantee).—General plumage deep glossy black; forehead, a superciliary stripe
above, and a slight stripe below the eye, upper and under tail-coverts, lower flanks, and a quantity
of long splashes on the underparts of the body rich turquoise-blue; ear-coverts marked with the
same colour; the primary quills (except the first two, which are black) rich rufous or foxy red,
with the terminal portion and outer web black; most of the short secondaries also foxy red, tipped
with black, the rest black, slightly margined with blue; central rcctrices margined with turquoiseblue
; chin and upper throat rich deep vermilion-red; bill black ; legs blackish brown; iris red.
Total length about 7 inches, culmen 1'32, wing 37, tail 30, tarsus 042.
Adult female (fide Reichenow).—Resembles the male, but when freshly killed has the black
on the upper portions of the plumage tinged with green.