Indian Birds 



1 1 8. Ceryle varia : The Indian Pied King- 

 fisher. (F. 1033), (J. 136), (III.) 



This bird must be famihar to every Anglo- 

 Indian, it is the '^ Pied Fish-tiger " of Sir 

 Edwin Arnold. It is speckled black and white 

 like a Hamburgh fowl. It seeks its quarry by 

 hanging in the air on rapidly vibrating wings 

 high above the water. Suddenly its pinions 

 cease quivering, and it drops like a stone into 

 the water. Sometimes it checks its fall before 

 reaching the water, and flies to another part of 

 the ]hil^ where it again hovers. 



It is impossible to mistake this bird; there 

 is no other like it save its larger Himalayan 

 brother (C. lugubris). It has a small crest. 

 (Illus. B. D., p. 66 ; also I. F., p. 162.) 



119. Alcedo ispida : The Common King- 

 fisher. (F. 1035), (J. 134), (II, but with a 

 very short tail.) 



This bird, which is to be found in all parts 

 of India where there is a river, a tank, or a 

 pool of water, is the kingfisher with which we 

 are familiar in England. 



Its head and nape are blue with faint black 



cross bars. The back is bright pale blue ; the 



tail is dark blue ; the wings greenish blue. 



The sides of the head are studies in red, blue, 



162 



