iy 
116 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
Mr. Atmore assures us that it is plentiful at Swellendam, and that — 
when he is digging in his garden, specimens may always be seen 
perched on the trees near him, from which they dart down on the 
worms, slugs, etc. which he turns up with his spade. Mr. Ayres 
writes :—“ These birds frequent the bush in Natal, generally perchmg 
on some dead or bare bough not far from the ground; they do not — 
take their prey on the wing, but take it from the ground. They have 
a loud chattering note, somewhat similar to the Laughing Jackass of 
South Australia, but do not laugh in the same ludicrous manner ; 
they have a dipping flight, seldom flying far at once.” Eggs sent by 
Mr. L. Layard and Mr. Harford were white but not so shiny as those 
of Ceryle rudis. Axis, 1:2, diam. 1:0. 
Adult.—Head dark brown, broadly striped with darker brown, 
becoming nearly black; scapularies and wing-coverts black ; lower 
part of the back and rump bright cobalt; quills brownish-black, 
the mner web pale orange at the base, the primaries at the base of, 
and the secondaries for the whole of the outer web, as well as the 
primary coverts, bright cobalt ; tail cobalt above, black beneath, the 
inner web of all but the two middle feathers more or less black at 
the edge; feathers from the base of the nostril extending backwards 
over the eye, cheeks and a collar round the neck pale yellowish- 
brown with distinct longitudinal bars; throat and abdomen white 
with faint lines marking the shaft of the feather; breast and flanks 
tinged with yellowish-brown and marked with very broad and dis- 
tinct longitudinal stripes ; under wing- and tail-coverts pale orange, 
lighter on the latter ; bill crimson, black towards the tip; eye dark 
brown ; feet dark red. Total length, 10 inches; of bill from front, 
1:85; from gape, 2°3; wing, 4:2; tail, 2°7; tarsus, 0-5; middle toe, 
0°6 ; hind toe, 0°3. 
Fig. Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. pl. 65. 
110. Hatcyon oRIENTALIS. Peters’ Kingfisher. 
This species is closely allied to Huleyon albiventris, and like it has 
a striped head, but is distinguished by its uniform whitish under- 
surface. } 
Although not included in Dr. Kirk’s Zambesi list, there is a 
specimen in Lord Walden’s collection from that locality, obtained, 
we believe, by the late Dr. Meller. It was originally discovered by 
Dr. Peters in Mozambique, and ranges as high as Mombas, where 
