572 SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — PICARIjE — HALCYONES. 



very small (lipoglossine). Nostrils basal, reached by frontal feathers. Feet very small and 

 weak, scarcely or not ambulatorial ; tibiae naked below; tarsi extremely short, reticulate in 

 front; hallux short, flattened underneath, its sole more or less continuous with sole of inner 

 toe; soles of outer and middle toe in common for at least half their length; inner toe always 

 short, rudimentary, or wanting (in two genera, Ceyx and Alcyone — -an abnormal modification). 

 Developed toes always with normal ratio of phalanges (2, 3, 4, 5; p. 133); middle claw not 

 serrate. Wings long, of 10 primaries. Tail of 12 rectrices (only 10 in the racket-tailed 

 Tanysijitera) variable in shape. Two subfamilies ; all Old World excepting one genus. 



"The Kingfishers form a very natural family of the great Picarian order, and are alike 

 remarkable for their brilliant coloration and for the variety of curious and aberrant forms wliich 

 are included within their number. . . . ' Their characteristic habit is to sit motionless watching 

 for their prey, to dart after it and seize it on the wing, and to return to tlieir original position 

 to swallow it.' . . . The Alcedlnidce nest in holes and lay white eggs. It is, however, to be 

 remarked that, in accordance with a modification of the habits of the various genera, a corre- 

 sponding modification has taken place in the mode of nidification, the piscivorous section of 

 the family nesting for the most part in holes in tlie banks of streams, while the insectivorous 

 section of the family generally nest in the holes of trees, not necessarily in the vicinity of water." 

 (Sharpe.) 



One would gain an imperfect or erroneous idea of the family to judge of it by the American 

 fragment, of one genus and 6 or 8 species. According to the author of the splendid monograph 

 above cited, there are in all 125 species, belonging to 19 genera. They are very unequally dis- 

 tributed. Ceryle alone is nearly cosmopolitan, absent only from the Australian region ; the 

 northern portion of the Old World has only 2 peculiar species ; 3 genera and 24 species are char- 

 acteristic of the Ethiopian region : one genus and 25 species are confined to the Indian ; while 

 no less than 10 genera and 59 species are peculiar to the Australian. The species are now 

 known to be over 150 in number, but this increase does not materially affect the items just 

 given regarding their distribution. In the subfamily DacelonincE, which contains a majority of 

 the genera and species, the bill is more or less depressed, with smooth, rounded, or sulcate cul- 

 men; and these birds are hardly " fishers,'' kingly or otherwise, for they live in the woods and 

 are mainly insectivorous. The largest genus is Halcyon, with over oO species. The next 

 largest is Tanysiptera, containing the 20 racket-tailed species ; Ceyx has nearly as many 3-toed 

 species ; one of the most notable birds of the subfamily is the Laugliing Jackass of Australia, 

 Dacelo gigas. In the 



Subfamily ALCEDININ/E, Piscivorous Kingfishers, 



the bill is compressed, with carinate culmen. Ceryle is the only American genus, with 3 North 

 American species, others in South America, and several more in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The 

 other Old World genera are Pelargopsis, Alcedo, CorytJiornis, and Ceyx, the latter 3-toed. 

 The Alcedinince are all thoroughly aquatic and piscivorous, seeking their prey by plunging into 

 the water from on wing ; and nest in holes in banks, laying numerous white eggs. 

 CE'KYLE. (Gr. KripvKos, keridos, a kingfisher.) Belted Kingfishers. Head with an 

 occipital crest. Bill longer than head, straight, stout, acute. Wings long and pointed. Tail 

 rather long and broad (in comparison with some genera), much shorter than wing. Tarsi 

 short; legs naked above tibio-tarsal joint. Plumage belted below. 



Analysis of Subgenera a7id Species. 



Streptocertlb. Large, with small feet ; upper parts dull bluish. 



Wing over 7.00, bill over 3.00. Under parts mostly rufous. Texas .....,, ^ ., ... • torquata 

 Wing under 7.00, bill under 3 00. Under parts mostly white. N Am. alcyon 



Chloroceryle. Small, with large feet. Upper parts glossy greenish. 



Wing under 4.00, bill under 2.00. Under parts mostly white americana septenlrionahs 



