THE KINGFISHERS 1835 



compressed, but more flattened, and in some instances even hooked. Then, again, 

 whereas in the typical subfamily there is almost always a perceptible groove along 

 the bill, leaving the upper part of it in the form of a ridge, in the second group 

 the ridge of the bill is either rounded or flattened, and in one or two instances 

 there is even a groove along the middle of its upper surface. 



This subfamily includes five genera, the members of all of which are 



essentially fish catchers, although on occasion they will eat small 

 Kingfishers. , m - , 



insects and crustaceans as well as other kinds of food. Two of the 



genera, viz,, Pelargopsis and Ceryle, although their representatives are thoroughly 

 piscivorous, have long tails, exceeding the length of the wings; but in the other 

 three, viz., Alcedo, Corythornis, and Alcyone, the tail is conspicuously shorter than 

 the wings. The stork-billed kingfishers inhabit the Oriental region, and differ from 

 the species of Ceryle, the only other fish-eating genus with a long tail, in having the 

 sexes alike in color, the bill very sharp and pointed, and the base of the upper edge 

 or culmen flattened and somewhat ridged, instead of being round and smooth. The 

 species of this genus are further characterized by their bright blue backs, thus re- 

 sembling those of the under-mentioned Halcyon, whereas in Ceryle there is no bright 

 blue color. Of the stork-billed kingfishers eleven species are known, their range 

 extending from the Indian Peninsula and Ceylon, through the Burmese and Ma- 

 layan countries to Java, Sumatra, the Philippines, Borneo, and Celebes. The species 

 which inhabits the last island differs from all the others in having a black bill, 

 whereas in the rest it is coral red. One of the best-known species is the Indian 

 stork-billed kingfisher (P. gurial), which is a large bird, measuring fourteen 

 inches in length, with a wing of nearly six and a half inches. The general color of 

 the plumage is dull green, with a slight shade of blue on the wing coverts, the outer 

 aspect of the quills and the tail being greenish blue; the head and nape are dark 

 chocolate brown; round the hind neck is a collar of pale ochre, and the under 

 surface of the body is of the latter color; while the bill and feet are dull red. This 

 species is an inhabitant of Ceylon and the greater part of the Indian Peninsula, but 

 it does not reach the northwestern provinces, though extending along the L,ower 

 Himalayas and the Terai country as far as Masuri and the Dun. Eastward it 

 ranges to Assam, but is replaced to the south by the Burmese short- billed kingfisher 

 (P. biirmanica). Generally found along rivers, streams, and back-waters, but only 

 where tolerably shaded by trees, it sits on a branch overhanging the water, and 

 pounces on fish, crabs, and occasionally frogs. Mr. Stuart Baker writes that " this 

 kingfisher is by no means common in the Kachar district, so that I have been able 

 to make but few observations on its breeding and other habits. Personally I have 

 only taken two nests. One of these was placed in a hole about two and a half 

 feet deep, and so large that without much difficulty I was able to put my arm 

 into it and search for the contents. The other burrow was fully four feet deep, and 

 the diameter at the entrance about three and three-fourths inches. Both nests were 

 placed in high sandy banks of the Diyung river, upon which and the Jatinga the 

 species is most often met with. The first hole contained four young birds, and the 

 second a single egg. The latter seemed to be rather abnormal in shape, and was 

 smaller at one end than the other. I have never seen the bird fishing on small 



