222 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
Distribution —Fairly common on lagoons, tanks, near the 
sea coast, and the lower reaches of our rivers. It is found on 
some of the larger inland tanks, but its occurrence elsewhere 
in the Island is rare. It is common throughout the plains of 
India and Burma, and ranges eastward to China. 
Habits, &c.—This species avoids forest streams, and is most 
plentiful on brackish lagoons and large sheets of fresh water. 
Unlike many other Kingfishers, it hovers over the water and 
plunges perpendicularly on its prey, instead of darting at an 
angle from a fixed perch. The breeding season is about May. 
The nest hole is driven for some distance into the bank of a 
river, tank bund, or water channel. The eggs, generally four 
in number, are of the usual spherical form and glossy white 
colour. Average size 1°15 by °92. 
ALCEDO ISPIDA (Blanford, Vol. III., p. 122). 
ALCEDO BENGALENSIS (Legge, p. 292). 
The Common Kingfisher. 
Description.—General colour above greenish-blue ; crown 
and nape with fine transverse bands of dusky black ; a rust- 
coloured stripe runs from the base of the upper mandible to 
the ear coverts, terminating in a whitish patch on the side of 
the neck ; a broad blue stripe runs from the lower mandible 
down each cheek ; centre of back, rump, and upper tail coverts 
bright cobalt blue ; wing coverts greenish-blue, each of the 
feathers of the lesser and median coverts with a brighter blue 
spot. Wing quills brown, with greenish-blue outer edges ; 
tail blue above, dusky brown beneath. Chin and throat 
whitish ; rest of lower surface rusty orange-brown. 
Bill, upper mandible black, lower mandible generally 
reddish-yellow ; iris deep brown ; legs and ‘eet coral red. 
Length 6°5; wing 2°75; tail 1°3; tarsus -35; bill from 
gape 1°8. 
Distribution.—Common all over the Island wherever there 
is water, stagnant or running. The range of the species 
extends throughout Europe and: Asia. In India it is found 
everywhere, except in the Himalayas. 
