671 



ALCEDO ISPIDA. HALCYON KINGFISHER. 



Fig. 275, 



Alcedo Ispida. Linn. Syst- Nat. I. 179, 

 Alcedo Ispida. Lath, Ind. Orn. L 252. 

 Common Kingfisher. Mont. Orn. Diet. 

 Martin-pecheur Alcyon. Alcedo Ispida. 

 Common King's-fisher. Alcedo Ispida. 

 Alcedo Ispida. Common King-fisher 



. Temm. Man. d'Orn. I. 423. 



Selb. Illustr. I. 136. 

 Jen. Brit. Vert. An. 157, 



Upper fart of the head and ucing-coverts dull green spotted 

 with light blue ; middle of the hack and rump glossy light blue ; 

 throat and a patch on the side of the neck yellowish-white ; lower 

 parts yelloioish-red. Female similar. 



Male. — The Halcyon Kingfisher, although one of the least 

 elegantly formed of our native birds, is among the most dis- 

 tinguished for the beauty of its plumage, which is such as at 

 once to recal to mind the splendour of the feathered denizens 

 of the tropics. Its large body, short and thick neck, dispropor- 

 tionately long bill, diminutive feet, and abbreviated tail, give 

 it a peculiar appearance, so that the least observant cannot mis- 

 take it for any other bird. The bill is considerably longer than 

 the head, straight, rather slender, higher than broad in its 

 whole length, four-sided, its outlines almost straight, and its 



