94 GREAT AFRICAN KINGFISHER. 



back. It is impossible, nowever, to describe all the 

 slight variations which these markings assume in 

 different parts of the plumage. It will be suffi- 

 cient, therefore, to observe that there is a row of 

 seven on each of the tail-feathers, which are placed 

 at alternate distances; the middle of each feather 

 is more or less black, which colour predominates 

 towards the head, and leaves the crest black and 

 unspotted ; the cheeks are white, bordered by black 

 spots, while those on the flanks run into transverse 

 bands. A conspicuous white spot is placed just 

 before the eye; the tail is moderate and rounded, 

 and the hind head crested. Only one specimen 

 was sent from Senegal, so that we know not whether 

 the sexes, as is usual in ftiis genus, are differently 

 coloured. 



Total length, 14| inches ; bill, from the front, 3 T % ; 

 wings, 8 ; tail beyond, 2 ; ditto from the base, 4j. 



