50 Mr. H. T. Ussher on the 



except on one occasion, when I shot one near the mouth of 

 a creek among the rocks on the sea-shore. They will fight 

 if only wounded, and can strike hard with their powerful 

 bills. I have noticed that in old specimens the bills become 

 blunted and not unfrequently damaged. 



28. CoRYTHORNis CYANOSTiGMA (Rlipp.) : Sharpc, p. 6. 

 Very common on the Gold Coast, in the vicinity of water, 



but occasionally met with in forest-land. 



29. IspiDiNA picTA (Bodd.) : Sharpe, p. 7. 



This pretty Kingfisher is common on the Gold Coast, and 

 may be seen everywhere busily flitting about, both near 

 water and in the forests. He is especially fond of frequent- 

 ing low palms, where he doubtless finds some favourite food, 

 and where he occasionally flits like a small jewel across the 

 gloom, emitting at the same time a curious little cry. This 

 species was common on the Volta. 



30. IspiDiNA LEUCOGASTRA (Fras.) : Sharpe, p. 7. 



Rare upon the Gold Coast. I have, however, received a 

 few specimens from Aubinn, who procured them in the in- 

 terior, but did not tell me the exact locality. 



31. Halcyon badia, Verr. : Sharpe, p. 7. 



A very rare bird on the Gold Coast. I have seen only 

 two specimens, collected in Denkera by Aubinn, of which one 

 was immature. Its habits appear to be identical with those 

 of the other insect-eating King-fishers; and it is evidently 

 not a water-species. 



32. Halcyon dryas, Sharpe, p. 7. 



These Kingfishers are pretty commonly distributed over the 

 wooded districts of Fantee, their favourite habitat being 

 rather thick jungles or dense palm-forests, where I have been 

 frequently startled by theii' chattering cry and bright colours 

 as they flow across. They have no objection to damp jungle 

 or bush, but do not appear to show any particular predilec- 

 tion for tlie vicinity of water. I shot several kinds of King- 

 fishers, however, up the Volta near the river itself; but they 

 did not appear to hawk over the water, but generally afi'ected 



