224 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
South and Central India; commoner, but locally distributed, 
at the foot of the Eastern Himalayas, and through parts of 
Burma to the Andamans, Cochin-China, and Celebes. 
Habits, &c.—A shy bird, keeping to lonely streams and 
tanks in the heart of the jungle. It probably breeds in the 
Island. The nesting habits are similar to those of the last 
species. The eggs, four to six in number, average about 
°78 by °69. 
CEYX TRIDACTYLA (Blanford, Vol. III., p. 127 ; 
Legge, p. 303). 
Indian Three-toed Kingfisher. 
Description.—A V-shaped mark of black washed with 
purple on the forehead at the base of the upper mandible ; 
crown, nape, hind-neck, lower back, rump, and upper tail 
coverts orange-red with a metallic lilac gloss, which is strongest 
behind the eye and on the rump and tail coverts ; upper back 
black washed with brilliant cobalt blue; wings dark brown, 
the coverts tinged with blue ; the edge of the wing, the wing 
lining, and the inner margin of wing quills rufous ; tail orange- 
red. There is a black spot in front of the eye and a deep blue 
spot behind the ear coverts ; lores, cheeks, ear coverts, and 
ower parts from the fore-neck orange-yellow ; chin and 
throat white tinged with yellow. 
Bill, legs, and feet coral red ; iris brown. 
Length 5°35; wing 2:2; tail :9; tarsus ‘35; bill from 
gape 1:5. 
Distribution.— Occurs sparingly in the dry and medium 
zones up to about 2,000 feet. It is found rarely in scattered 
localities in the Indian Peninsula, also in Lower Bengal and 
through Burma to Malaya and the Andamans. 
Habits, &c.—This beautiful little species is occasionally 
met with on lonely streams. It is generally seen singly or in 
pairs, and at times wanders away from water. It has been 
found breeding in the Mannar District. The nest hole was 
excavated in the side of a small water-course. The eggs, 
three in number, were more oval than is the case with most 
Kingfishers, measuring *77 by °66. 
