14 Dr. Sinith’s Contributions to the 
Fam. HALCYONIDA. 
Genus, ALCEDO. 
Aucepo Natalensis. 
A. fronte, vertice, nuchaque ceruleis, linetis transversis viola- 
ceis variegatis ; lateribus capitis subcinnamomeis ; dorso ceeruleo ; 
pectore et ventre subcastaneis. 
Bill and legs bright scarlet; front, top of head and nape, 
deep indigo blue, variegated by pale blue or violet transverse 
bands ; sides of head and neck light reddish brown with tints 
of purple; back fine bright blue; shoulders blackish with a 
shade of blue in addition to numerous spots of clear light blue. 
Primary and secondary quill feathers dusky black, with the 
inner vanes nearly all brownish red; chin and throat white ; 
breast, belly, and vent, pale chesnut ; tail dusky blue. Length 
from bill to tip of tail four inches; length of bill oneinch. In- 
habits the banks of rivers, &c. to the eastward of Cafferland. 
Fam. OTIDA. 
Genus, OTIS. 
Oris Afroides. 
O. fronte, supercilris, lateribus capitis, collo, gutture, pectore 
et ventre nigris ; vertice et parte nuche nigris albo variegatis, 
dorso nigro lineis transversis albis aut subrubris variegato ; 
remigibus albo et nigro notatis. 
Front, eyebrows, sides of head and neck, throat, breast, 
belly, vent, and thighs, pure black; crown and part of nape, 
black, variegated with irregular waved transverse white lines ; 
between the black eyebrows and variegated crown a moderately 
distinct white line, which extends backwards and meets on the 
nape the corresponding one of the opposite side, where they 
form an irregular white mark. Behind each eye and covering 
the openings of the ears, a large somewhat circular white 
blotch ; between interscapulars and base of neck an irregular 
transverse white band. Interscapulars, scapulars, and anterior 
part of shoulders, black, variegated by narrow reddish white 
angular transverse bands ; back and rump black, with narrow 
transverse waved white lines; posterior part of shoulders white, 
inside white blotched with black. Primary wing coverts black, 
more or less broadly tipt with white; secondary similarly 
colored, only the quantity of white is much greater. Primary 
quill feathers black, with a great portion of the inner vanes 
white; secondaries black, several of them blotched or striped 
longitudinally with white. Tail rounded, and finely rayed 
[62] 
