RED THROATED BLUE BEE EATER
MELITTOPHAGUS MUELLER!
M E L I T T O P H A G U S M U E L L E R!
R E D - T H R O A T E D BLUE BEE-EATER.
Meropiscus mS/Ieri, Cassin, Journ. Ac. Sci. Phil. 1857, p. 3 7 ; Cab. Mas. Hcin. ii. p. 132 (1859); Gray, Hind-1.
of B. i. p. 9 8 , no. 1 1 9 8 (18(59).
Merops mulleri (Cass.), Hartlaub, Orn. Westafr. p. 2(12.
Meropogon midleri, Cassin, Journ. Ac. Sci. Phil. scr. 2, iv. p. 322, pi. 4 9 . fig. 2 (18CO).
Nyctiornk mulleri (Cass.), Gichcl, T!ICB. Orn. ii. p. 734 (1875).
F'tgura unica.
Cassin, Journ. Ac. Sci. Phil. scr. 2, iv. pi. 4 9 . fig. 2.
HAH. Gold Coast.
Ad. capite ct collo cum corpore subtus, supra- ct suhcaudalilms saturate ca?ruleij, \i\ nigro uotatis: strifl per oeulos
ductii el reginiu1 parotitfi ui^ris : pda vivide eoccinca : dursri rum alia nupril saturate femi^incis rcmigilmn
Baturatioribus : caudii nigra, saturate ca?ra!co lavata : rostro nigro: |iedibus nigro-fuscis : iridc rubri.
Adult (Fantec).—ITead, neck, underparts generally, and the under and upper tail-coverts rich
cobalt-blue, t h e black of the basal portion of the feathers showing through here and there, more
especially on the bead and nape; a streak through the eye and the ear-coverts black; throatpatch
rich deep vermilion-red, verging on carmine-red; bock and wings deep foxy rufous, the
quills rather darker; tail black, washed with cobalt-blue; hill black ; legs blackish brown; iris
deep red. Total length about 0'5 inches, culmen 1 3 2 , wing tail 2-f), tarsus 0*4: first quill
short, nearly a n inch shorter than the second; third and fourth longest; second shorter than fifth.
I T is a somewhat difficult matter to write the history of a bird about winch so I d * „ known as
the present species. Erst obtained by DuChaillu on the Muni river, m West Africa, it was for
to- only known from there, the single example obtained by him being for some tunc uname;
7 S L E C , u e n t , y one example was sent from Banteo t . Mr. B B . w d l , Sharpe, and .s now m
t h e l i t i s ! Museum; and a third specimen came in a small collccfon from t i e Gold Coast to
C pt G. E. SheHey. Beyond these three I do not know of any ^ ^ ^
b e t a - so far as we can judge, in adnlt dress, the immature plumage of tins rare Bee eater ,s
h e m - , so far as v, „ M e m l o p i v „ and probably closely
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habits, note, or mode of nidificahon.