. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. TKE MOT HUTS. I saw no less than seven luiniU'e(l skins, all shot at Tangier in the siiring of l!^7-l-, which were consigned by Olcese to some dealer in London. Howe\'pr, the euormons injury these birds do to the jieasants who keep Bees fully merits any amount of punishment, but, at the same time, they destroy quantities of Wiisps. After being fired at once or twice, they become very wary and shy at the breeding-places; and the best way to shoot them is to ^^ hide near the colmenares, or groups ^^^ of corchos, or cork bee-hives, which in S
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. TKE MOT HUTS. I saw no less than seven luiniU'e(l skins, all shot at Tangier in the siiring of l!^7-l-, which were consigned by Olcese to some dealer in London. Howe\'pr, the euormons injury these birds do to the jieasants who keep Bees fully merits any amount of punishment, but, at the same time, they destroy quantities of Wiisps. After being fired at once or twice, they become very wary and shy at the breeding-places; and the best way to shoot them is to ^^ hide near the colmenares, or groups ^^^ of corchos, or cork bee-hives, which in Spain are placed in i-ows, some- times to the number of seventy or eighty together; and it is no un- usual thing to see as many Bee- eaters whirling round and swoop- ing down, even seizing the bees at the very entrance of their hives. The reason of their early departure in August is to be accounted foi bj the simple fact that bees ceise to work when there are no floweis, and by that time all vegetation is scorched ; The Bee-eatei suffeis probably less from the fashion ible rage after its plumes than do some of the bright-coloured buds, is it goes in winter to South Afiin, where it rears anothei biood of young ones. THE SEVENTH FAMILY OF THE FISSIROSTRAL PICARIAN BIRDS. THE MOTMOTS [Momotid<€). These birds are peculiar to the New "World, being found from Mexico southwards through the whole of Central America and the South American continent. Their general plumage is green, and the majoi'ity of the species have a large racket at the end of the centre tail-feathers, formed by the bird itself, as detailed below. Mr. Waterton gives an account of the Motmots in Demerara, and he was tlie first to point out that the racket in the tail was jwoduced by the bird's own action. He writes :— " The Koutou ranks high in beauty amongst the birds of Demerara. His body is green, with a bluish cast in the wings and tail; his crown, which he erects at pleasure, consists of b
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecta, booksubjectanimals
