112 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
crabs. The late Mr. Andersson procured several specimens at the 
Knysna, where also Victorin found it in March and April. Mr. 
Ayres has procured the species in Natal and the Transvaal, it being 
found in the former country not far from the coast, where it fre- 
quents rivers and lakes. Captain Shelley says:—‘I met with a 
pair of these gigantic Kingfishers amongst the low bushes between 
Durban and the Conguella, and procured them both. They kept 
entirely to the small streams, and when disturbed flew only for a 
short distance, returning again to the same haunt as soon as they 
fancied they were out of danger.”” Dr. Kirk says that throughout 
the Zambesi region, it was observed on the courses of the rivers. 
According to Mr. Andersson it is occasionally found in Damara 
Land on the Teoughe River and also on the Okavango, but is every- 
where very shy. Senor Anchieta records it from Humbe on the 
Cunene River. It is not uncommon on the Quanza, where, we are 
informed by Mr. Monteiro, “it may be seen generally on the bare or 
dead branches of trees overhanging the river, sitting upright, with 
its head at nearly right angles with its body, and the crest is pro- 
minently exhibited.” On the Congo, however, it appears to be repre- 
sented by Ceryle sharpii. 
The food of this large Kingfisher consists of crabs, frogs, reptiles, 
and fish. Mr. Atmore writes:—“I once found one of these birds 
with his bill shattered, evidently from striking his prey in too shal- 
low water.” 
Adult male.-—Above slaty-black, darker on the head, which is 
crested ; most of the crest feathers with good sized white spots upon 
both webs, towards the nape some of the feathers in very old birds 
unspotted; back and scapularies clearer slaty-grey, a few shaft 
stripes very plainly developed, and all the feathers spotted with 
white, some of the spots being more longitudinal bars; the lesser 
wing-coverts slaty-grey with a heart-shaped spot of black in the 
centre of the feather; the rest of the wing coverts black, edged 
with slaty-grey and conspicuously spotted with white ; quills black- 
ish, the inner web white at the base and broadly edged with slaty- 
grey and spotted with white ; a small spot in front of the eye, throat 
and a line of feathers from the base of the lower mandible down the 
sides of the neck, pure white, the latter varied with longitudinal 
black marks; cheeks and a line of feathers below the last mentioned 
line of white and black feathers, black, the former narrowly, and the 
