102 ALCEDININ 
Head and hind-neck dusky, the feathers edged with pale 
blue ; a rufous band from the base of the nostrils to the end of 
the ear-coverts; below this a dark band, extending down the 
sides of the neck, followed by a white patch; scapulars dull 
green; back, rump, and upper tail-coverts pale blue ; wings and 
tail dull green-blue ; the wing-coverts speckled with pale blue; 
quills dusky on their inner edges; chin and throat white, the 
rest of the lower plumage bright ferruginous. 
In young birds a bluish-green tinge is the prevalent tint; 
in adults a pure blue. 
The Indian Kingfisher is commonly distributed throughout 
the district, but it occurs more rarely in Sind, where it is 
replaced by the next species; with this exception it is a 
permanent resident, breeding from March quite to the end of 
May and occasionally later; the nest-hole is pierced in the 
bank of a stream, invariably according to my experience over 
running water; the eggs, five or six in number, are broadish 
ovals, white and beautifully glossy. They measure 0°8 in length 
by 0°68 in breadth. 
Alcedo ispida, Zin. 
134b¢s,—Murray’s Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 111. 
THE EUROPEAN KINGFISHER. 
Length, 68 to 75; expanse, 10 to 11; wing, 295 to 3°; bill, 
at front, 1°4 to =°6. 
Bill above blackish-brown, at base and beneath reddish- 
orange ; irides hazel ; legs orange-red. 
A broad bright orange stripe from the bill to the ear-coverts 
margined on the sides of the gape and crossed below the eye 
by a narrow black streak ; sides of the neck with a white patch 
commencing from behind the ear-coverts ; chin and throat white ; 
head, nape, neck behind, a broad streak from the base of the 
lower mandible and lesser wing-coverts, greenish-blue; the 
feathers edged with bright light blue, and forming narrow bars 
or spots of that color; scapulars and exterior webs of the 
primaries greenish-blue, the inner webs of the latter dusky 
brown; back, rump, and upper tail-coverts rich azure-blue ; tail 
deep blue; breast and entire under surface of the body bright 
orange. 
The European Kingfisher occurs commonly in Sind, where 
it takes the place of A. bengalensis ; the latter, however, is not 
altogether absent, but only occurs as an occasional seasonal 
visitant. 
Its nesting arrangements are similar to those of its relative, 
A. bengalensis. 
Alcedo beavani, Wald. 
135quat.—Butler, Deccan ; Stray Feathers, Vol, IX, p. 383. 
