bee-eater

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


a bird-name. The European Bee-eater is Merops apiaster; the Australian species is Merops ornatus, Lath. The bird was called « M. phrygius, the Embroidered Merops,» by Shaw.

1793. G. Shaw, `Zoology [and Botany] of New Holland,' p. 14:

«Specific character. – – Black Merops varied with yellow. Thebird figured in its natural size on the present plate is aspecies of Merops or Bee-eater; a tribe which appears to bepeculiarly prevalent in the extensive regions of Australia,since more birds of this genus have been discovered than of anyother, except the very numerous one of Psittacus.»

[The birds, however, have been since this date furtherdifferentiated, and are now all classed in other genera, exceptthe present species.]

1790. J. White, `Voyage to New South Wales,' p. 144:

«The wattled bee-eater, of which a plate is annexed, fell inour way during the course of the day. . . . Under the eye,on each side, is a kind of wattle of an orange colour. . .This bird seems to be peculiar to New Holland.»

Ibid. p. 190:

«We this day shot a knob-fronted bee-eater (see plate annexed).

This is about the size of a black-bird.» [Description follows.]

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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