226 SPOLIA ZEYLANIGA, 
HALCYON SMYRNENSIS (Blanford, Vol. ITI., p. 13 
Legge, p. 298). 
The White-breasted Kingfisher. 
Description.—The head, cheeks, hind-neck, sides of neck, 
flanks, and lower parts from the breast downwards chocolate- 
brown ; the chin and throat to the centre of the breast white ; 
back, scapulars, tertiaries, outer portion of secondaries, 
greater wing coverts, rump, and tail blue, brightest on the 
rump and tail coverts ; medium wing coverts black, lesser 
wing coverts chestnut ; inner margin of secondaries and the 
end half of primaries black ; basal portion of primaries white 
on the inner and blue on the outer web. 
Bill dark blood red ; iris brown ; legs coral red. 
Length 11; wing 4°5; tail 3°3; tarsus -5; bill from 
gape 2°6. 
Distribution Common all over the Island, and found 
throughout India and Burma, except on the Himalayas. The 
range extends from Cyprus to Southern China. 
Habits, &c.—May be seen on rivers, swamps, and paddy 
fields. It is by no means confined to the neighbourhood 
of water, and is not uncommon in Colombo gardens. It 
occasionally fishes, but feeds chiefly on insects, small lizards, 
and crabs. The call is a harsh scream, generally uttered 
while flying. As the breeding season extends from January 
to August, there are probably several broods during the year. 
The nest is the usual hole in the bank of a stream, pond, or 
ditch. The eggs are of the usual type, and average 1°14 
by 1:04. 
HALcyon PILEATA (Blanford, Vol. IIT., p. 133 ; 
Legge, p. 301). 
The Black-capped Kingfisher. 
Description—Crown, nape, and cheeks black; a white 
collar round the neck ; the feathers of the upper back adjoin- 
ing the collar and the wing coverts are black ; the general hue 
of the rest of the upper plumage, including the tail, tertiaries, 
and the outer webs of the secondaries, is purplish-blue, brightest 
on the lower back and rump. The inner webs and the tips of 
