BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



155 



SSelteb Ikingfiebcr 



John DiH^CrM/ 



The Belted Kingfisher {Ceryle akyofi^ Linnaeus) is a very 

 rare irregular autumn migrant to the British Islands. This 

 bird hails from North America, and is partially migratory 



during winter. 



The general colour of the male above is 



slaty-blue ; shaft of each feather, blackish ; the head is 

 furnished with a crest ; a white spot before the eye, and 

 a streak of the same beneath it ; quills, basal half, white ; 

 secondaries and wing-coverts, tipped with white ; two 

 centre tail-feathers, bluish ; remainder, brownish-black, 

 barred with white ; a broad collar of white reaches from 

 the throat over the sides of the neck ; chest band, slaty- 

 blue; under parts, white; irides, dark brown; bill, black; 

 legs and feet, brownish. Length, about twelve inches. 



