B O L E S L A V S K l ' S BEE EATER
MELITTCFHAGUS BOLESLAVSKII
M E L I T T O P H A G U S B O L E S L A V S K I I.
BOLESLAVSKl'S BEE-E ATEK.
Merops bullocki, Vierth. Xaumannia, 1852, p. 11, partim (nee Vieill.).
Merops boleslavskii, Von Pelz. Sitzungsb. k. Ak. Wiss. Wien, xxxi. p. 320 (1858}; Hartl. J.f.O. 1861, p. 107;
HeugHn, Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 206 (1869).
Spheconax boleslavskii (Von Pclz.), Cab. Mus. Hein. iL p. 133 (1859).
Merops fremitus, Ileugl. J. f. O. 1804., p. 335, partim (nee Ilartl.).
Merops boteslavskyi (Von Pelz.), Heuglin, J. f. O. 1801, p. 330.
Coccolarynx bolesiuvskii (Von Pelz.), G. 1!. Gray, Hand-], of B. i. p. 101, no. 1227 (1809).
Figura nulla.
HAB. Northern Africa.
Ad. M. bullock! persimilis, sed gulä flava nee rubra.
Adult (Cnsamancc).—Closely resemble! Melitlophagus bullocki, except that the throat, instead
of being red, is rieh blight yellow. Total length 7'25 inches, culmen 15, wing 39, tail 4.-05,
tarsus 0 5 .
I T is with considerahle hesitation that I include the present bird as a distinct species, and it is
more from a lack of sufficient material to form a decided opinion on the subject, than from
a conviction that it is clearly distinct, that I am compelled to do so. I have, indeed, only been
able to examino a single specimen, now in the British Museum; for the bird is so rare that I
cannot find another in England. At first I thought it might prove to be an immature
example of Mclittopliagitx bullocki; but the freshness of the plumage makes it improbable that
this will he the case, and I also find that in the young of Melitlophagus gularis the red throatpatch
is assumed at once, and is not at first yellow, so that in all probability it will be the same as
regards Melittophagus bullocki. It is, however, quite possible that the present bird may be a
peculiar race of M. bullocki; and I trust that collectors who read this article will use their
utmost endeavours to obtain the necessary materials to fully elucidate this moot question.
The range of the present species appears to be about the same as that of Meliltophagns
bullocki, with which it has been found consorting. "Von Heuglin states (I. c.) that he
frequently obtained it with Melittophagus bullocki in Southern and Eastern Senaar, and looked
on it as being the young of that species, as it agrees with it in size and (excepting in the