ON THE CRESTED KINGFISHERS OF AFRICA. 129 
red, Total length 5.3 inches, of bill from front 1.2, from gape 
1.5, wing 2.3, tail 1.0, tarsus 0.25, middle toe 0.45, hind toe 0.2. 
Hab. Madagascar, and adjacent islands (Newton, Pollen and 
Van Dam.) — 
The first description of this little Kingfisher is to be found in 
Brisson’s ‘Ornithologie’ (/.c.) where, however, the habitat is 
wrongly stated to be the Philippine Islands ; but as in addition 
to the very careful diagnosis given, the bird is said to be called 
by the natives ‘ Vintsi,’ which is well known to be the native 
appellation in Madagascar for the present species, there can be 
no doubt that the specimen described by Brisson really came. 
from that island. 
The rarity of Corythornis cristata in collections, and our com-_ 
paratively small knowledge of the ornithology of Madagascar, 
render the account of its habitats very meagre, but in the valu- 
able work recently published by Messrs. Pollen and Van Dam 
we find the following interesting passage concerning it :— 
‘This bird is very common in Madagascar and Mayotte. It 
is always to be seen on the borders of the rivers, brooks, lakes, 
cataracts, and in the forests of mangroves which extend along 
the sea-coast. It feeds on little fishes and certain aquatic insects, 
on which it precipitates itself with great rapidity. In other 
respects it lives in the same manner as our common Kingfisher, 
and has a very similar cry. At Mayotte it is often seen perched 
on the leaves of the sugar-cane, near the canals which traverse 
the fields, having its eyes continuously fixed on the water, and 
awaiting, with patience, the moment when a little fish or an in- 
sect presents itself underneath, to precipitate itself upon it swiftly 
by plunging into the water, Having seized its prey, it returns 
to devour it, to the branch that it has just quitted; it may be 
seen lifting its crest, raising and lowering its head, and remain- 
ing, often for an hour together, in an almost immovable position. 
This species is by no means shy, and allows itself to be easily 
approached. It lives almost always solitary, sometimes in pairs, 
and it is only on rare occasions that more than three individuals 
are seen together. We have found this bird at Mayotte, Nossi- 
