ALCEDO. 479 



In Burmah it affects all the low-lying parts near the sea. It extends as far 

 as East Africa ; in the north to Siberia and Japan, and ranges thence to 

 China, Siam, Cochin-China, and the Malay Peninsula, and breeds from March 

 to May, making a narrow hole about 2 feet in depth in some bank overlooking 

 the water, generally about five or six feet above water level. Correspondents 

 in the Nilghiris, Deccan, the Dhoon, Darjeeling, Cashmere, Kumaon, Ootaca- 

 mund, Ahmednuggur, and other places all agree in regard to the lining of the 

 nest, being composed of small filamentous bones, probably undigested food 

 thrown up in the chamber, on which the eggs are laid. The eggs are glossy 

 white, some oval, and others spherical, about 0*8 X 07 inch. 



1111. AlcedO grandiS, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xiv. p, 190. Alcedo 

 euryzona, Temm. apud. Jerd., B. Ind. i, p. 231, No. 135. Alcedo nigricans, 

 apud. Blyth, J. A. S. B. xvi. p. 1180. Alcedo cserulea, Gmel. apud. Bonap. 

 Alcedo grandis, Sharpe, Mon. Alced. p. 27, pi. 7; Gould, B. Asia, pt. xxii. 

 pi. i. The GREAT INDIAN KINGFISHER. 



Very like Alcedo bengalensis, except that the coloration is much darker ; 

 back and rump very bright blue; upper tail coverts deep -blue ; lores with a 

 black spot, the rufous band faintly developed ; ear coverts mixed black and 

 blue ; nuchal band narrow and white ; plumage beneath dark ferruginous. 



Length. 8-5 to 9 inches against6 8 ; wing 3-8 against 275 ; bill at front 1*9. 



Hal. Sikkim, where it is rare. 



1112- AlcedO ispida, Lin.,. Syst. Nat. \. p. 207 ; Bodd., Tail. PL 

 En. 77; Naum. vogt. t. 144; Gould, B. Eur. pt. xviii. ?; Hume, Sir. F. i. 

 p. 168 ; Murray, Hdbk. ZooL, fyc., Sind, p. 129. THE EUROPEAN KINGFISHER. 



A broad bright orange stripe from the bill to the ear -coverts margined on 

 the side of the gape and crossed below the eye by a narrow black streak j 

 sides of neck with a white patch commencing from behind the earcoverts ; 

 chin and throat white. Head, nape, neck behind, a broad streak from the 

 base of the lower mandible and lesser wing coverts greenish blue, the feathers 

 edged with bright light blue, and forming narrow bars or spots of that colour ; 

 scapulars and exterior webs of the primaries greenish blue, the inner webs of 

 the latter dusky brown ; back, rump, and upper tail coverts rich azure blue ; 

 tail deep blue ; breast and entire under surface of the body bright orange. 

 Upper mandible dusky brown or blackish brown, reddish at base ; lower 

 mandible reddish orange; irides hazel. 



Length. 6-8 to 7-5 inches ; expanse 10-5 to 1 1 ; wing 2-95 to 3; bill r6 

 to. 17. 



Hab. Europe generally; found also in S. Afghanistan, Beloochistan, 

 Persia, and Sind, 



1113. AlcedO asiatica, Swains., Zool. III. 1st Ser. I pi. 50; 

 Sharpe, Mon. Alced. p. 23, pi. 5 ; Ball, Str. F. i. p. 59 ; Hume, Sir. F. ii. 

 VOL. II. 62 



