ALCIDININ^. 05 



mandible and feet red ; lower mandible black. Total length, 

 10"; wing, 4" 6'"; tail, 3" 6'". 

 Natal. Hartlaub, loc. cit. non vidi. 



The Sub-Family, ALCIDININ^, or Kingfishers, 



have the bill more or less long, straight, and slender, with 

 the culmen sloping to the tip, which is acute ; the sides much 

 compressed ; and the gonys long and ascending. 



Genus ALCEDO, Linn. 

 Bill more or less long, slender, and straight, with the 

 culmen sloping to the tip, which is acute ; the sides com- 

 pressed ; the lateral margins straight ; the gonys lengthened, 

 and slightly sloping upwards ; the nostrils basal, with the 

 opening oblique, and covered by a membraneous plumed 

 scale ; wings short, with the first quill nearly as long as the 

 second and third, which are equal and longest ; tail short, 

 broad, and rounded ; tarsi very short and robust ; toes 

 unequal ; the outer toe nearly as long as the middle one, and 

 united nearly to the tip ; the inner toe short, and united at 

 the base ; the hind toe rather short and broad ; the claws 

 short, compressed, and curved. 



105. Alcedo, Semitorquata, Swainson, Zooi. 



III., PI. 151 ; Cuv., Vol. 2, p. 410; Hartlaub, Ora, 

 W. Af., p. 35. 



General colour above, blue ; brightest on the rump, neck, 

 and head ; in the last this colour assumes the shape of nar- 

 row bars ; throat whitish, inclining to bufi", which is the 

 colour of the rest of the under parts ; bill black ; legs 

 light-red. Total length, 7i" ; wing, 31" ; tail, 1" 6'". 



This species does not extend into the Table Mountain peninsula. 

 I have never received it from any place nearer than Swellendam, and 

 know nothing of its habits.* 



106. Alcedo Oristata. (Linn.) pi. Eni., 755; 



Corythornis Gristata. 



Adult. — Head with large blue and black crest ; upper part 

 mazarine blue ; under parts rufous ; chin and ear- tufts white ; 

 bill and feet coral red. Length, 5i" ; wing, 2i" ; tail, 1^". 

 Young. — Crested as in adult ; upper parts much variegated 



* 1865. One specimen since receiyed from the "Salt Eiver," near Cape Town, shot 

 by Mr. John Reid, jun. 



I 



