6 ALCED11SIDJE. 



positions. The bird seemed to be successful at taking a fish not 

 more than once in every six or seven attempts. I often wondered 

 at people talking of the wonderful accuracy with which King- 

 fishers dive after fish. I have often had the curiosity to count 

 their attempts, successful and otherwise, and my experience goes 

 to show that A. benyalensis is the most expert and that Ccryle 

 rudis, about which people talk most, is the least accurate. I have 

 seen him fail twenty-three times running. 



" The plumage of A. </rftm'lis presents a most striking contrast 

 when seen in sunlight and in shade. In the former the bird 

 appears to be glistening blue alone, whilst, when in shadow, the 

 whole bird looks a sombre black. 



"It is a very silent bird ; its note, like that of the Indian King- 

 fisher, but softer, is only heard when the bird is on the wing, and 

 then very rarely, as it usually gives one cry just after starting, 

 and then relapses in silence. Its flight is exceedingly rapid, and, 

 like all Kingfishers, this bird appears to lean from side to side in 

 flying; before perching it always flies upu'ards, not down, to the 

 intended place." 



Alcedo asiatica, Swains. The Malayan Kingfisher. 



Alcedo meningtirig, Horsf., Hume, Cat. no. 135 ter. 

 Alcedo "beavani, Wald., Hume, Cat. no. 135 quat. 



Mr. Gates, writing from Pegu, records the following note 

 regarding this beautiful Kingfisher: "July 2nd; nest in the 

 steep bank of a ravine in thick forest. Gallery about one and a 

 half feet long, terminating in a small chamber. Eggs four, laid on 

 the bare soil; very glossy and round, white ; si/e '78 by '69, '76 

 by -7, '75 by -7, and -8 by -68. July 14th ; nest with nearly full- 

 grown young in similar situation." 



Ceryle guttata (Vigors). The Pied Himalayan Kingfisher. 



Ceryle guttata ( T%.), Jcrd. B. Ind. \, p. 234 : Hume, Rough Draft 

 N. 4- E. no. 137. 



The Pied Himalayan Kingfisher breeds undoubtedly in the 

 banks of all the larger streams of the Sub-Himalayan ranges, but 

 I have only once succeeded in meeting with a nest, and that was 

 in June in a stream below Subatoo, and it unfortunately contained 

 four young birds. It was a large hole fully 4 inches in diameter, 

 ran about 18 inches into the bank of loose decomposed shale, and 

 terminated in a chamber containing a quantity of fish-bones and 

 grass, fully 10 inches in diameter. Mr. E. Thompson tells me : 

 " The large Pied Kingfisher breeds from April to June in the 

 banks of the larger well-wooded streams, frequently .in the deepest 

 parts of forests. Sometimes and more commonly they breed in 

 holes dug out by themselves, at others they suit themselves to 

 ledges and shelves of rocks ! Three 1 or four is the usual number of 



