108 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
dam, and we saw it ourselves near Graham’s-town, the Fish River, 
and Kowie. Specimens were in Major Bulger’s Windvogelberg — 
collection. Victorin obtained examples at the Knysna in April, 
July, and August, and Mr. Andersson also shot it at the same place. 
Mr. Rickard records it from Port Elizabeth and East London, where, 
he says, it frequents the beach as well as the rivers and feeds much 
on crabs: it has also been sent from Eland’s Post by Mr. T. C. 
Atmore. It appears to be scarcer in Natal than in Cape Colony, 
but Mr. Ayres says that it frequents both the coast and the interior. 
The specimens he procured were named at the time A. quadribrachys, 
a West-African species, and one which we do not consider an inha- 
bitant of South Africa, for, though the late Mr. Jules Verreaux 
assured us that he obtained it on the Buffalo River, no actual speci- 
mens are in existence from any part of South Africa, and we think 
it probable that in this instance his memory failed him. Mr. Ayres 
has also found the species in the Transvaal, but it was not met with 
in the Zambesi country by Dr. Kirk, although a specimen said to be 
from thence is in Mr. Dawson Rowley’s collection. On the western 
coast it has been procured by Anchieta at Capangombe. 
In habits the Half-collared Kingfisher resembles its European 
prototype, and may be seen perched for some time on a bough 
overhanging the water, into which it plunges after fish, &c. Its 
flight is strong, but is not so swift as that of its European congener. 
Mr. W. Atmore informs us that it nests in holes of banks, and that 
he took one at Kykoe, which contained three polished white eggs. 
General colour rich blue, the back brilliant cobalt, the head and 
nape banded with bright blue lines and a stripe on the sides of the 
neck white, as well as the throat; rest of under surface orange, the 
sides of the breast blue, somewhat converging so as to form a half 
collar; bill black; feet coral red; iris black.* Total length 7:5 
inches ; bill, 1°8; wing, 3°2; tail, 1°8; tarsus, 0°25. 
Fig. Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. pl. 7. 
104. CoryrHORNIS CYANOSTIGMA. Malachite-crested Kingfisher. 
Alcedo cristata, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 65. 
This beautiful little Kingfisher is abundant throughout the colony, 
wherever a stream or marsh exists which can supply it with its 
* The descriptions of all the Kingfishers are derived from the editor's 
“ Monograph of the Alcedinide.” 
