M. Sundevall on the Birds of Calcutta. 403 



Var. dorso cyaneo, minus virescente tincto quam in individuis 

 europseis. — $ Adultus (Calcutta Martio). Longit. 6 poll. Ala 60 

 millim. ; pes e talo ad apicem unguis 25 ; rostrum e fronte 38 ; 

 altit. 7 ; cauda 35. Rostrum totum nigrum, et pedes tenuiores quam 

 in individuis Europseis collatis. Colores puriores, sed pictura per- 

 fecte eadem. Iris obscure fusca. Remigum prima paullo brevior 

 quam 4 a . Alius £ (Calcutta Febr.) simillimus sed rostrum basi 

 subtus pallidum. Aliud individuum (Mus. Lund. e-Calcutta) simil- 

 limum, etiam mensuris et tenuitate pedum ; differt rostri altitudine 

 8 millim. et maxilla inferiore tota pallida. 



As long as I remained in Bengal kingfishers occurred there 

 frequently. Near such water-tanks as were surrounded with 

 small trees or bushes, one or two of these handsome birds were 

 always seen sitting, ready to pounce on small fish, their only 

 food. The Bengalese name is Massrenga or Matjrunga (from 

 matj } fish, and renga or runga, red, gay or coloured), also tjutto 

 massrenga or little kingfisher, to distinguish it from the follow- 

 ing species. All the specimens which I have seen from Bengal 

 are distinguished by somewhat brighter or purer colours from 

 the European ones which I have had an opportunity of seeing, 

 two of which were shot here in Skania in 1835 and 1836. This 

 is evidently an effect of the warmer climate, but besides this, the 

 Bengalese ones always have smaller though not shorter feet than 

 the European ones. This may probably arise from the greater 

 warmth, which has more rapidly and completely dried np the 

 soft parts in fresh-stuffed specimens in India than in Europe. 

 The resemblance is too great for one to assert any specific dif- 

 ference. 



52. Alcedo smyrnensis, L. et auct., et ejusd. var. y. Lath. (var. /3. 

 dist. sp.). Gen. Halcyon, Swains. 



Castanea, coilo antico (ad medium pectus) albo, dorso alis cauda- 

 que cseruleis, vitta cubitali nigra. Macroura rostro recto pedibusque 

 sanguineis. 



<■£ (d. 12 Mart.). Alarum tectrices mediae nigra?, fasciam obli- 

 quam formantes ; minima? castanea?, maxima? colore dorsi. Scapu- 

 lares sordide ca?rulei. Kemiges 3-5 suba?quales, reliquis longiores ; 

 omnes primaria? apice nigra?, pogonio interno albo ; cubitales 14, 

 quarum 12 a?quales, intus nigra?. Cauda rotundata, longit. trunci, 

 subtus nigra. Tibia apice vix nuda. Lingua parva, triangularis, 

 apice rotundato, integerrimo. 10^ poll. Ala 118 mill. Pes e talo 

 ad apicem unguis 40. Rostrum e fronte 60, altit. 15, cauda 76. 

 Alius $ (mense Apr.) simillimus, pra?ter alam 115 millim., rostrum 

 55, caudam 80. $ similis mari. 



This is certainly one of j:he handsomest of birds, in respect 

 both of the splendour of the colours and their pleasing distribu- 



