DESCRIPTION, DISTRIBU'Hr;N, HABITS 



Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis,. (Vol. II., p. 53.) 



Description. — Male : head crested j black and white 

 above. Tail white at the base, followed by black, and tipped 

 with white. A white streak from the base of the bill over the 

 eye. White below with two bands of black on the breast. 

 Black spots on the flanks. Iris dark brown. Bill and feet 

 black. 



The female differs from the male in having onlv one black 

 band on the chest, and this band is usually di\ided in the middle. 



Length, 1 1.50 ; tail, 5.55 ; wing, 3. 00. 



Distribution. — The whole of Africa and South-West Asia. 

 In South Africa it occurs from the Cape coast to the Zambesi. 



Habits. — The pied kingfisher may be met with along the 

 coast, tidal and other rivers, and around the margins of lagoons, 

 lakes, and ponds. Like the giant kingfisher, it poises itself in 

 the air and drops upon its prey in the water when the latter is 

 swimming near the surface. When it is unable to capture 

 sufficient fish for its needs, it resorts to crabs, shrimps, and other 

 aquatic life. A hole is tunnelled to a depth of 3 to 4 ft. in a 

 sand bank. At the end of the horizontal hole there is a smooth, 

 round chamber in which 5 eggs are laid ; thev are white, 

 shiny, and oval in shape ; size, 1.25 by 0.95. They breed in 

 October and November. 



Coly, or Mouse Bird {Colius striatus). (Vol. II., p. 57.) 



Description. — Ashy-grey and speckled brown on the upper 

 parts. Ashy brown below. Lower portion of tail feathers 

 chestnut-bufF. Bare skin round the eye black. Iris dark 

 brown. Upper part of beak black ; lower bluish-brown. Legs 

 purple-brown. 



Lengthy 13.0 to 14.0 5 tail, 8.0 ; wing, 3. 70. 

 The female resembles the male. 



Distribution. — Cape Province to Nvassaland. 



Habits. — These mouse birds associate in small flocks of 

 5 or 6 to about a dozen individuals. Thev inhabit the 



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