Tn preparation, 



A MONOGRAPH 



OF THE 



ALCEDINIDil OR KINGFISHERS. 



By R. B. SHARPE. 



No work has hitherto appeared in English exclusively devoted to the study of the beautiful 

 family of the Alcedinid^, or Kingfishers. 



In 1851, Dr. Reichenbach, in his 'Handbuch der speciellen Ornithologie,' published a 

 Monograph of this family ; but, unfortunately, as a scientific work, it is by no means satisfac- 

 tory ; for, besides containing many spurious species, the illustrations are veiy iuferior, many 

 of them being copied from the works of Bufi'on and other naturalists, while the few original 

 drawings which appear are so poorly executed as to afi^ord but little assistance to the 

 ornithologist. 



Since that time, the researches of travellers and naturalists in all parts of the world have 

 brought to light many new species of Kingfishers, a few of which have been figured in Schlegel's 

 lately published work on the Birds of the Dutch East Indies ; but as yet there exists no treatise 

 which embodies all that is at present known respecting this interesting group of Birds. 



In the present volume, therefore, the author proposes to collect all the available informa- 

 tion, published and unpublished, of the habits and manners of these beautiful birds, and to 

 give a coloured lithographic illustration of each species. At present the number of known 

 species amounts to about one hundred, and includes every imaginable variety of shape and 

 colour. The brilliant plumage of our own Kingfisher may be regarded as the type of that of 

 the family, although many species are to be found which far surpass it in size and splendour. 



The author has been most fortunate in obtaining the cooperation of the best scientific 

 naturalists of the day, while to Mr. A. R. Wallace he is specially indebted for a series of notes 

 on the species discovered by him in the Moluccas and New Guinea. Dr. Mukie, Prosector to 

 the Zoological Society, who has contributed so largely towards our knowledge of the Anatomy 

 of Vertebrates, has kindly undertaken to write a chapter on the Anatomy and Osteology of the 

 Kingfishers, materials for wliioh the author is now endeavouring to collect from every available 

 source. 



The Plates have been entrusted to Mr. J. G. Keulemans, of Leyden, an artist who, for 

 faithful delineation and life-like character, can scarcely be surpassed. 



The work will l)e published in quarterly parts, Imperial 8vo ; and each part, price 10a-. 6d.. 

 will contain eight beautifully coloureil lithographs. It is believed that nliout thirteen parts 

 will complete the volume. Two huudred copies oidy will be printed, ami the value (if the 

 work will be thus considerably enhanced; for as soon as the required number of jilates has beeu 

 struck off, the plates will be effaced. 



The low price at which the book is oftcred will, it is hoped, pliicc it within the reach of 

 every naturalist ; while to those who are not naturalists it may be confidently stated that the 

 beauty of the illustrations will render it a most attractive volume in the Library, or on the 

 Drawing- Room table. 



Intending Subscribers are respectfully requested to seud their uaines fo the Autlioi. at 

 " The Zoological Socictv of London," ll" Hanover Sciuaiv, London, W. 



