ALCEDINIDA. - @ae 
Family ALCEDINID, or KINGFISHERS. 
The Kingfishers are a well-defined group of birds, and were associated 
by Forbes with the Woodpeckers and Hoopoes ; but Sclater places them 
with the Rollers, Bee-eaters, and Hoopoes. They agree with the Wood- 
peckers, Rollers, and Bee-eaters in having two notches on each side of the 
posterior margin of the sternum, thus differing from the Hoopoes, though . 
Huxley places them in close proximity to the latter family, which they 
are also said to resemble in their pterylosis. In their myology’ and 
digestive organs they are nearly allied to the Bee-eaters, and still nearer 
to the Rollers. 
The Kingfishers are said to moult only once in the year, in autumn ; but 
some spring examples are in such perfect plumage as to lead to the sup- 
position that they must have moulted very recently. 
The most prominent external characters of the Kingfishers are the 
powerful Heron-like bill and small tarsus and feet, especially the hind toe 
and claw. They vary greatly in general style of coloration, but chestnut 
and metallic blues and greens are the predominant colours. The tail is 
generally short ; but in some genera abnormally long, usually consisting 
of twelve feathers, but occasionally only of ten. The wing is somewhat 
long, slightly rounded, and contains ten primaries. 
There are about 130 species of Kingfishers, which are distributed through- 
out the world, with the exception of the Arctic regions. They are most 
abundant in the Austro-Malayan Subregion, and least so in the Nearctic 
and Neotropical Regions. One species only breeds in Europe, and is a 
resident in our islands. ‘Iwo other species occasionally visit South-east 
Europe ; whilst an American species has occurred in Ireland. 
Genus ALCEDO. 
The genus Alcedo was recognized by Linnzeus in the 12th edition of his 
‘Systema Nature’ (i. p. 178), published in 1766. A. ispida (the Ispida 
ispida of Brisson) is the type. 
The Kingfishers in this genus belong to a group which are distinguished 
by having a depression on each side of the upper mandible from the nostril 
to the tip, causing the ridge of the upper mandible to have the appearance 
of a keel. The species belonging to the genus Alcedo may be separated 
Z2 
