ALCEDINID^] CORYTHORNIS 81 



The Woodwards state that it adopts the burrow of a rat or other 

 rodent in a hard bank in which to lay its eggs, but they give no 

 further details. Mr. W. Atmore states that it lays three white 

 polished eggs in a hole in a river bank. 



Genus III. CORYTHORNIS. 



Type. 

 Corythornis, Kaup, Fam. Eisv. p. 10 (1848) .............. C. galerita. 



This genus differs from Alcedo in .having a much longer crest, 

 the anterior feathers of which reach to beyond the occiput ; the 

 wings too are a good deal more rounded, the difference between the 

 length of the primaries and secondaries being less than the length 

 of the tarsus. In other respects it resembles Alcedo. 



Three species are recognised, all confined to Africa, including 

 Madagascar. 



st+ 



415. Corythornis cyanostigma. Malachite Kingfisher. 



Alcedo cristata (nee Linn.), Kittl. Kupf. Vog. pi. 29, fig. 3 (1833) ; 

 Kirk, Ibis, 1864, p. 325 [Zambesi] ; Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 65 (1867). 



Alcedo cyanostigma, Eupp. Neue Wirb. Vog. p. 70, pi. 24, fig. 2 (1835 

 40) ; Grill, K. Vet. Akad. Handl Stockholm, ii, no. 10, p. 46 (1858). 



Corythornis cristata, Gnrney, Ibis, 1859, p. 245 [Natal]; P. L. Sclater, 

 P. Z. S. 1866, p. 22 [Cathcart div.] ; Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. p. 35, 

 pi. ii (1869) ; Ay res, Ibis, 1879, p. 291 [Eustenburg and Potchcf- 

 stroom] ; Holub <& Pelz. Orn. Siid-Afrikas, p. 63 (1882). 



Corythornis cyanostigma, Bucldey, Ibis, 1874, p. 364 ; Shelley, Ibis, 

 1875, p. 68 [Durban] ; Sharpe, ed. Layards B. S. Afr. pp. 108, 806 

 (1875-84) ; Barratt, Ibis, 1876, p. 198; Ayres, ibid. p. 425 [Lyden- 

 burg]; Gates, Matabeleland, p. 303 (1881); Butler, Feilden, and 

 Reid, Zool. 1882, p. 206 ; Shelleij, Ibis, 1882, p. 244 [Mashonaland] ; 

 Symonds, Ibis, 1887, p. 327 [Kroonstad] ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xvii, 

 p. 163 (1892) ; Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 116 (1896) ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1897, 

 p. 497 [Zululand] ; Woodward Bros. Natal B. p. 92 (1899) ; Alex- 

 ander, Ibis, 1900, p. 103 [Zambesi] ; Marshall, ibid. p. 249 [Mashona- 

 land]. 



"Intangaza" of Matabele (Ayres). 



Description. Adult male. Crown crested, the feathers being 

 transversely banded with black and greenish-blue ; sides of the 

 head, nape, and rest of the upper surface ultramarine-blue with 

 6 VOL. in. 



