\ 



i 



THE BIRDS OF BANGKOK. 33) 



aided b)' a stroke or two ot the wing-;, to gain iinpfliis, bill, before 

 tile water is rccached tlie wings are closed. Tiie momentum carries tlie 

 bird riglit under tlie watiT, but it is out again in a second with (it" 

 success lias breii aciiieved) a small lisli in its bill, held at right angles. 

 It then, while si ill flying, drops the llsh in the air for a moment, only 

 to re-seize it instant!}', by the head, and swallow it. 1 have seen this 

 done several times. If the fish for which it is darting clisapi)ear3 after 

 the bird commences plunging, it checks its downward course before 

 reaching the water, and flies upward again. 



The Pied Kingfisher is, of course, often to be seen seated On 

 trees, stumiis or posts near the water, but 1 have never observed it 

 plunge from tliesi. When uttering its twittering cry, while seated, 

 it has the Jiabit of flicking its tail up. 



77. Alcjdo ispida beugalensis ' ■ m. The Eastern Common 

 Kingjisher. 



Ahi'itd ispiilii (part.), lllaiifiiij, l•^llln. Urit. India, lird.'^, iii (1S'J.')\ 

 |). 1-22: Williaiiison, .Joiirii. X. H. 8. Siatii, i, p. 45 (1914): 

 OLrilvjc-Glalit, Fiisc Malay. Znul.. iii (1905), y- 111. 

 Alii'dd l/(it(ii(ttii.<i.-i, Ivoliiiison ami Ivloss, lliis, lilll, t^.'ii- 

 .\li(>(lii ifjiida limi/ii/i ii--i.<, (ivUkMistnlpe 1913, ]). 54 : Rouiii>oii, Ihis 

 1915. p. 730 : GvklLMistoipe 1916, p. 115: Robiii.son. .I>miii. V. 

 M. S. .Mils., vii, p". 146 (1917). 



Dosi'rijdiijii. Length up to 171 ( 6.75 in. ). Crown and naiie 

 transversel}' banded black and blue ; lores and a band below the eye to 

 the ear-coverts deep ferruginous, ending in a white (or .-lightly rufous 

 white) patch at the side ol the neck : lower edge of the I'.res black, and 

 sometimes a black spot at tiie base of the lower mandible, whence there 

 is a broad blue stripe along the cheek ; middle of back, rump and upper 

 tail-coverts bright blue; scapulars and wing-coverts . reenish blue, 

 each I if the lesser and median coverts tipped with a brijlit blue spot ; 

 ([uills brown, edged outside with greensh blue ; tail blue above, brown 

 beneath. Chin and throat white, sometimes with a pale ferruginous 

 wash : remainder of lower parts deep ferruginous. The intensity and 

 shade oi' the blue varies to some e,\tent. 



Iris very dark brown. Bill blackish throughout in males: in 

 femiles the lower mandible is orange at the base and dusky at the 

 tip. Month li\ id llesh to ilesliy orange. Legs coral-red, sometimes 

 dusky in front. Claws pale to dark horn. 



\uL. II, uel. Iflir. 



