to the Cape Verde Islands. 87 



16. Cypselus UNicoLOR Jard. 



We saw several of these birds flying round the houses in 

 Praya. 



17. Halcyon erythrogaster Gould. 



This Kingfisher was about the first bird that we met with on 

 landing. There is hardly a valley or dried-up watercourse 

 that does not harbour several; while it is not unusual to 

 find a pair or two along a rocky portion of the shore. It 

 is a confiding bird^ evincing a decided fondness for pro- 

 claiming its presence to every passer-by. When disturbed, 

 with a slow and Jay-like flight it reluctantly travels 

 forward, only to settle a few yards ahead on some slender 

 overhanging twig of an acacia-tree, turns about, and, with 

 neck bobbing up and down, stares one full in the face with 

 large wide-awake eyes ; while its bright plumage stands out 

 clear and distinct, even through the flne network of the 

 acacia-tree. 



The bird possesses a song, or rather it might be described 

 as a running voluble chatter, now soft, now crescendo, 

 uttered on the wing and also when sitting, becoming loud 

 and frequent, however, when the bird meets his mate. 

 When the soft light of a brief twilight begins to reign over 

 the valleys, the quaint, chatter-like song of this Kingfisher 

 will often be heard rising above the humdrum singing of 

 the locusts, and only drowned now and again by the 

 rattling of the fan-like leaves of the coconut-trees. During 

 the heat of the day this bird is fond of resorting to some 

 shady pool, where it frequently indulges in a bath. From 

 a branch overhanging the cool water it performs a series 

 of dives, returning after each to the same perch, there to 

 shake and preen its feathers before dipping again into the 

 water. Its food consists of insects and lizards. 



The voracity of the bird is sometimes remarkable. On 

 one occasion one was killed in the act of swallowing a lizard 

 measuring nearly five inches. When seeking after food a 

 commanding position is taken up, whence the bird starts to 



