(i Sta) 
is pale blue on the back, rump and upper-tail coverts ; wings and tail 
dull greenish-blue, the former with pale blue specks; throat white, 
under parts of the body ferruginous; head and hind neck feathers 
edged blue. This tiny kingfisher is by no means an uninteresting 
bird to watch or to observe its peculiarities. It is uot infre- 
quently seen sitting motionless, on the rocks, with its bill “ trained” 
or focused on the waters below, till it spies a small fish approach 
the surface, when with a rapid dive, it draws out the silvery morsel. 
It is not often that dengalensis fails in its attempt to catch its prey out 
of the eddy its intent gaze has been on, unrelaxing. At times this 
kingfisher, appears to have lost patience, when it is observed flying 
up stream, uttering short irritable cries, keeping an eye on the sur- 
face of the water as it flies. When the fish is spotted it hovers in 
the air over the place kestrel-like, for a few seconds, before shooting 
down head first into the clear water below. This is apparently done 
to take a steady aim with its bill, and to wait for the desired oppor- 
tunity when probably the fish is either taken wnawares or caught in 
a handy (2) position. If unsuccessful the kingfisher, as it rises on 
the wing, utters a few, as though irritated, noisy cackles, as much 
as to say “like my cussed bad Juck again,” and flies on not much 
the worse for the ducking. 
(131) Hatcyvon CoroMANDELIANUS, Ruddy Kingfisher, though 
seldom seen, has similar habits to the former bird. Jt is a prettily 
coloured and marked species. In length 10% inches; bill and legs 
red; irides brown ; plumage is more or less rufous with shining peach 
lilac, chiefly on the head, face and quills, here and there a_ little 
white showing, and glistning pale blue ; beneath ferruginous. 
(133) Ceyx TripactryLa, Three-Toed Purple Kingfisher, is much 
smaller in size than bengalensis, being about 54 inches in length. It 
is doubtlessly one of the most beautiful little kingfishers in the dis- 
trict, or in India as far as that goes, without taking into considera- 
tion the claims of Ruddy kingfisher. In habits, very similar to 
hengalensis. Tridactyla is vare and difficult to find. Bill is coral 
coloured ; legs red; irides brown. Bill somewhat similar in shape 
to Halcyon, gonys having a more upward incline; tail very short ; 
feet of three toes, two in front and one behind; back dark lusterous 
blue ; upper tail-coverts including lower back, rich rufous with lilac 
gloss; head rufous and glossed lilac ; violet and white near the ears ; 
dark blue at base of the bill; wings deep blue; quills black ; lower 
parts of the body ferruginous ; throat white. 
(137) Cery“Le Gurrata, Large Crested Black and White Kingfisher, 
is fairly common on or about the rivers here. In the plains, it is 
called Machi-Bagh Fish-tiger and in the hills Ung Kashyiu water- 
