PICARIAN BIRDS AND PARROTS OF CEYLON. 223 
Habits, &c—This little Kingfisher lives mainly, if not 
entirely, on small fish, and is seldom seen away frem water. 
It generally darts on its prey from a fixed perch, but occasion- 
ally hovers. The flight is swift and low ; the ery is a shrill 
whistling note. The birds are usually met with in pairs. 
The breeding season lasts from February till about June, 
and occasionally birds breed as late as November. 
The nest hole is usually in a bank close to the water’s edge. 
The passage is about 2 to 4 feet in length, and the nest chamber 
6 inches in diameter. The eggs are of the usual type, and 
measure about *8 by °68. 
ALCEDO BEAVANI (Blanford, Vol. III., p. 124 ; 
not in Legge). 
Beavan’s Kingfisher. 
Description.—The colouring is deeper and richer than in 
the preceding species. Crown, nape, and hind-neck black 
with narrow cross bands of royal blue ; lores rufous, the lower 
border black ; sides of head and cheeks royal blue ; a whitish 
patch on the side of the neck behind the ear coverts ; middle 
of back and rump deep cobalt blue ; upper tail coverts deeper, 
almost royal blue ; scapulars, wing coverts, and wings blackish- 
brown, the inner quills washed with royal blue, and most 
of the wing coverts tipped with a spot of deep cobalt blue ; 
tail feathers dusky brown at the base, deep purplish-blue at 
the tip. Chin and throat buffy white ; remainder of lower 
plumage deep chestnut. 
Ceylon specimens appear to be darker than typical A. 
beavant. 
Bill dusky brown ; lower mandible paler ; iris dark brown ; 
legs and feet red. 
Length 6°5; wing 2:75 tail 1°35; tarsus °35; bill 
from gape 1°8. 
Distribution.—A fairly recent addition, first discovered by 
A. P. Greene, I believe near Dambulla, in 1893. <A. L. Butler 
found it several times near Medagama, in Uva. It should be 
looked for on forest streams among the lower hills. It is 
occasionally seen in Travancore and a few other localities in 
