118 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
to localities where the vegetation has been destroyed or partially in- 
jured by fire; and it selects, if possible, a low dry branch on an 
isolated tree, where it watches by the hour for its prey ; this, as far 
as I could ascertain, consists of insects, which it generally seizes 
on the wing. It utters loud, sharp, and shrill cries, and is always 
found singly or in pairs.”’ Senor Anchieta has procured this species 
at several of his collecting places in Mossamedes and Benguela, and 
it also extends into Angola. 
Dr. Kirk states that the food of this Kingfisher consists of insects. 
He also says that it is a sweet songster, both before and during the 
rains. Mr. Monteiro also refers to its note and observes as follows: 
—‘ All the birds belonging to this family that I have observed in 
Angola utter a very agreeable loud note or song, which produces a 
singular effect when, in going down a river in a canoe, in the breath- 
less mid-day sun, it is heard cool and clear, while all else is hushed 
and still in the glaring heat. They are found in the thick woods 
and bush in the vicinity of the rivers as much or more than on the 
very banks.” 
Adult.—Head brown, each feather longitudinally marked down 
the centre with a shaft-stripe of darker brown ; ear-coverts and back 
of the neck black; feathers in front of the eye at the base of the 
bill, cheeks and a collar round the back of the neck dirty white, 
marked with brown and slightly tinged with buff; upper portion of 
the back, scapulars and wing-coverts brown, the greater coverts 
narrowly edged with white, primary coverts dull green; quills dark 
brown, the inner web broadly white at the base, the outer web 
washed with dull green and narrowly edged with white towards the 
tip ; lower portion of the back, ramp and upper tail-coverts bright 
cobalt ; tail dull green above, greyish brown beneath; under sur- 
face of the body white, inclining to buff on the flanks and abdomen ; 
upper part of the breast and sides of the neck transversely crossed 
with narrow margins of brown, and each feather marked down the 
centre with a dark shaft-stripe; flanks longitudinally streaked with 
dark brown ; bill and feet red (Buckley). Mr. Andersson gives the 
following note on the soft parts:—‘The irides in this species are 
claret-coloured, the bill reddish-brown on the upper mandible, and — 
orange-red on the lower, the lores are dusky, the legs and toes 
yellowish.” Total length, 6-7 inches; culmen, 1°3; wing, 3°3; tail, 
1:9; tarsus, 0-4, 
