Huntsville gazette., 1886-02-13
THE 6EE.EATER.
A Migratory Bird Whose Food Consists Of
Bees, Wasps and Gnats.

A Migratory Bird Whose Food Consists Of
Bees, wasps and Gnats.
There are several species of this little
bird inhabiting most parts of the old
world, and all distinguished by brill
liant plumage. They are somewhat
migratory in their habits, in winter
seeking the warmer parts of the globe
and in summer the temperate regions
in search of food, which they take on
the wing like the swallow. The food
consists almost entirely of bees, wasps,
gnats, etc. They will watch for them
singly or in small parties perched on
some prominent branch of tree, from
which they can see all around them,
then lightly skim the air to seize their
prey, returning generally to the same
branch.
The European bee-eater in its varied
coloring and shape is not unlike the
king-fisher, with which it is nearly
allied. It annually visits the countries
bordering on the Mediterranean, ap-
pearing in focks of twenty or thirty,
skimming over the vineyards and olive
plantations in pursuit of insects. especi-
ally of bees and wasps. And it is re-
markable that these birds are never
stung by them. As they seize the in
sect they at once crush it with their
strong beak. Under the name of me-
rops, of which family it is, Aristotle
mentions it as very destructive to bees.
1t often watches near their hives and
also at the mouths of wasps' nests.
One species is native of the warm
est parts of Europe, particularly among
the Islands of the Grecian Archipelago
and of many parts of both Asia and
Africa; but in the north of Europe it is
rarely seen. Next to the koller and
kingfisher. it is considered beau iful
bird. Its varied plumage is of golden
brown and pale yellow, more or less
shaded with an admixture of red and
blush green, with sea-green beneath.
From the corners of the bill on each
side of the head black streak passes
across the eyes, curving downward and
nearly meeting the tips of the crescent
across the throat, separating the yell
low of that part from the sea-green of
the under parts. The tail, of a sea-
green color, is about three inches long,
the two middle feathers projecting in a
pointed form some distance from the
rest. The legs are short and of a red
dish color.
The bse-wolf, or African bee-eater, is
of still more brilliant plumage. Its
back is of deep-red color, verging to
rose color underneath. The head,
throat and portions of the tail are of
blush green; while the same black
spot runs from the corners of the head
to the ears. The tips of some of the
longest feathers are also velvety black.
1t is about thirteen inches in length,
and is an inhabitant of Eastern Africa.
The flesh of the bee-eater is suffi-
GENTLY esteemed to be sold in the mar
kets of both Italy and Egypt. The
boys Of Gambia, or Megalo-Kastro, one
of the most populous cities of Crete,
catch the bird in this manner: They
bend pin into hook, and tying it by
the head to a long thread, they thrust
it through locust, just as boys bait
hooks with fly, holding the other end
of the strong, light thread in their
hand. The locust, so fastened, con-
tinues its flight, which the merops per-
ceiving, pursues and catches, at the
same time swallowing pin and all,
when it is easily captured.
They rear their young in horizontal
holes in the sandy banks of rivers.
The entrance is usually small, extend
ing to the depth of three or four feet
into a cavity in which the parents can
easily turn round. The eggs are
white, from five to seven, and are laid
on the ground or on moss or other soft
material. When the young are partly
fledged, but not yet able to fly, they
creep to the mouth of their hole, where
they seem to enjoy the happy summer
light and genial sunshine. But on the
least alarm they hasten into their inner
chamber, where they lie concealed un-
til all is again quiet.
In the banks of the Don and Volga
the excavations made by the focks Of
bank in many places resembles honey
comb. Livingston describes the banks
of the Leeba in South Africa as perfo-
rated in a similar manner. At morn
ing and evening they frequently con-
gregate in considerable numbers.
Their flight is graceful and sustained,
and their cry is loud, consisting,
though, of pleasant whistling notes,
mostly heard during the morning and
evening.
Here we have another little creature
formed by Divine wisdom to do its
special work in lessening the vast
number of insects which might, in
those warm countries, become trouble
some.-M Y Observer.