1838 THE PIC A RI AN BIRDS 



after the first heavy floods, not, as nearly all other birds which make similar exca- 

 vations for their eggs do, before the floods. This kingfisher is very common on 

 nearly all the hill streams of any size, up to about two thousand feet; above this it 

 is much less common, but I have seen it now and then on the L,aisung, a little 

 stream at an elevation of about three thousand feet. During the breeding season it 

 ascends higher up than in the cold weather, during which latter season it is often 

 found well into the plains, but after April I have not heard of any being met with 

 below about five or six hundred feet. On the Dryring Kopili and Zelinga rivers 

 this bird and C. rudis meet one another, and for a few miles at their junction both 

 may be met with, but their limits seem to be very distinctly defined, and a straggler 

 of either kind is but seldom met with far beyond them. I believe they are entirely 

 fish eaters. I have never seen them except on fair-sized streams, and the stomachs 

 of those I have examined contained nothing but fish. While waiting for fish, they 

 perch very low down amongst the scrubby bushes bordering the streams, or else on 

 some overhanging bamboo, but whatever the position selected, it seems nearly 

 always to be one well in shadow, and, instead of sitting on some outside twig or 

 bough, they choose one well inside or under the bush or bamboo clump. In the 

 same manner their love of shade and darkness leads them always to select the shady 

 side of the stream, whenever practicable. As a rule, they are to be found in pairs, 

 seldom singly, for, though the male and female may be some distance apart, they 

 keep within hailing distance of one another. They do not as a rule fly at all fast 

 or far at a time, unless frightened, but on such occasions are capable of flying 

 extremely fast and powerfully, rising high in the air, well out of gunshot, to avoid 

 any danger, and then dropping again when past it, continuing their flight low down 

 close to the water. Their manner of taking prey from the water is by swooping 

 down obliquely toward it, after which the} 7 move further on, seldom returning to 

 their original perch. Occasionally, as they fly along and are attracted by some- 

 thing in the water below them, they will hover momentarily, after the manner of C. 

 rudis, and then drop perpendicularly down into it; in these cases, however, they 

 seldom dive to any depth, and do not immerse more than their head and shoulders. 

 The usual cry is much like the typical cry of the family, but is very loud, and gen- 

 erally uttered in a quick succession of notes. Besides this cry, it gives a low 

 hoarse croak from time to time when seated in the shadow, which same note is, I 

 think, merely a call to its mate. This sound is very much like the croak uttered 

 by Batorides javanica, and I was for some time under the impression that it was 

 made either by that bird or some other small bittern or egret." 



The common European kingfisher (Alcedo ispida), of which a figure 

 Kin fi h * s &i ven on P- 1 ^34, is the best-known representative of the short-tailed 

 fish-eating kingfishers; in which section of the family there are three 

 genera, namely, Alcedo, Corythornis, and Alcyone. Of these, the latter is exclu- 

 sively Australian, and is characterized by having only three toes; while the second 

 is confined to Africa and Madagascar, and is distinguished by its well -developed 

 crest. The members of the genus under consideration are likewise crested, although 

 to a smaller degree, the feathers giving a pointed form to the structure. Confined 

 to the Old World, these kingfishers are represented by eleven species, three of which. 



