. Egyptian birds for the most part seen in the Nile Valley . brown, beakblack, eyes crimson, two centre tail-feathers very length, 11 inches. There are three species of Bee-eaters, but this, theLittle Green Bee-eater, is chosen because it isresident, and because it must be seen by every onein Upper Egypt. The other two species are bothbirds of passage through Egypt, and are seldomseen or heard till April or May, when most peoplehave left. This bird is well called the Green Bee-eater since it is green right over every part of itsupper plumage, but owing to the shading of partsno
. Egyptian birds for the most part seen in the Nile Valley . brown, beakblack, eyes crimson, two centre tail-feathers very length, 11 inches. There are three species of Bee-eaters, but this, theLittle Green Bee-eater, is chosen because it isresident, and because it must be seen by every onein Upper Egypt. The other two species are bothbirds of passage through Egypt, and are seldomseen or heard till April or May, when most peoplehave left. This bird is well called the Green Bee-eater since it is green right over every part of itsupper plumage, but owing to the shading of partsnot in the full light of the sun it often appears asif its head were of burnished gold, and again whenit flies, if the light be at all behind it, the trans-parent outstretched wings look a brilliant orangeowing to the under-sides being of that rich warmcolour. In habits it will remind any observerof our Fly-catchers at home, for it sits ratherhumped up on a dead twig, wall, or post till,suddenly observing some passing bee or fly, it 54 LITTLE GREEN BEE-EATER. THE LITTLE GREEN BEE-EATER 55 swoops down on its prey and then back again toits perch to enjoy its food. This it will continueto do by the hour together, till, first stretchingout one wing and leg, and then the other, itdecides to set out for pastures new, and with aneasy, long, sweeping flight, rising and then falling,it disappears from view. It is a very tame littlebird, and is met with literally everywhere; butit is undoubtedly most fond of the wells witha few trees growing round them, or the gardensor palm-groves. I do not remember to have seenone actually on the ground, in which matter it issimilar to all very short-legged birds, and its legsare very short. It is a melancholy fact to have to record that itis far too often shot by visitors; and worse, some-times now native boys catch it for the delectationof tourists, and, tying a bit of string round itslegs, hold it as if it were perching naturally ontheir hands. They t
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