Adult (sexes alike).—Above, from bill to and including mantle and sides of neck, bright chestnut; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts clear sky-blue; a band from corner of mouth through eye to ear-coverts black, bordered below by sky-blue; below apple-green, lighter posteriorly and more or less mixed with blue; under tail-coverts light blue; wings and coverts dark green; primaries and secondaries with dusky tips and dark ocherous-buff inner webs; long tertials tipped with dark blue; tail above dark cerulean-blue, the lateral feathers darker than middle pair which are broadly tipped with black; shafts black, tail brown below. Iris bright red; bill and nails black; legs dark flesh. Length, including long tail-feathers, about 300. Three males from Mariveles, Luzon, measure: Wing, 117 to 118; tail, without long feathers, 87; bill from nostril, 34 to 36.

“Young.—Differs from the adult in being duller and greener, the red of the head being overshaded with green and the mantle and upper back green; the under surface is paler, the throat and abdomen pale blue and the breast light green.” (Sharpe.)

“Nest.—Nests in level sandy strips of ground. The tunnel is some 50 mm. in diameter at its mouth and at first runs sharply downward. When a depth of 60 to 90 cm. has been reached it turns and slopes gradually upward for 120 to 150 cm. of its length, ending in an enlarged chamber in which the eggs are deposited on the bare sand. The eggs are pure white and highly polished. They are frequently nearly spherical. They vary from 21 to 24 in length by 18 to 20 in breadth.

“Sometimes feeds singly, but is more usually found in small flocks, and at times very large flocks gather, apparently attracted by swarms[missing text] 36; tarsus, 11; middle toe with claw, 20. Eight females, length, 267; of bees. Six males average, 282 in length; wing, 114; tail, 100; culmen, wing, 112; tail, 91; culmen, 34; tarsus, 11; middle toe with claw, 19.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

304. MEROPS PHILIPPINUS Linnæus.
GREEN-HEADED BEEBIRD.

Bantayan (McGregor); Basilan (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Bazol (Everett); Bohol (Everett, McGregor); Cebu (Murray, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Guimaras (Steere Exp.); Leyte (Everett); Luzon (Meyer, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Steere, Murray, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Mindoro (McGregor); Negros (Meyer, Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Keay); Panay (Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Samar (Bourns & Worcester); Sibuyan (McGregor); Siquijor (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Sulu (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester). Malay and Indian Peninsulas, Indo-Chinese Provinces, Ceylon, Celebes, Malayan islands.

Adult (sexes alike).—Above dark green mixed with a little dull chestnut; occasional touches of blue on head; rump and upper tail-coverts cerulean-blue; a narrow line of blue across forehead, ending on each side over posterior border of eye; a broad black band from nostril through eye to and including ear-coverts; chin light yellow; a wide chestnut band on throat; breast, sides, and abdomen green, mixed with ocherous-buff and touches of pale greenish blue; vent and under tail-coverts delicate sky-blue; wings and tail nearly as in Merops americanus. Iris red; bill, legs, and nails black. Length, with a full-grown tail, about 305. Measurements of three males from Luzon: Wing, 126 to 133; tail, without central pair of feathers, 89 to 93; bill from nostril, 35 to 36. Three females from Luzon: Wing, 124 to 125; tail, without long feathers, 89 to 91; bill from nostril, 31 to 33.

Young.—“Much duller in color generally, with the blue tail and rump of the adult, but without the blue eyebrow, this being replaced by a little lighter green shade than on the crown; cheeks pale green; throat pale brownish.” (Sharpe.)