SUPERCILIOUS KINGFISHER. 87 



bill, says Edwards, is of a blackish or dusky colour, 

 except the lower mandible, which is reddish: the 

 throat is orange-coloured, and it hath a mark of 

 the same colour passing from the base of the bill 

 on each side, over the eyes: the head, hinder part 

 of the neck, back, tail, and covert-feathers of the 

 wings are of a fine parrot-green colour : it hath 

 also a bar of the same green across the breast; 

 the sides, under the wings, and sides of the belly 

 are of a bright reddish orange-colour: the middle 

 of the belly, the thighs, and covert feathers under 

 the tail are white: the tail hath twelve feathers, 

 the middle ones a little longer than the others: 

 the inner webs of the tail-feathers are spotted with 

 white : the inner coverts and the ridges of the 

 wings are of a light orange-colour: the quills are 

 dark brown or dusky, spotted with light clay-co- 

 lour on their outer and inner webs, except a few 

 of the outer quills, which are without spots: the 

 legs and feet are small; the toes connected, as in 

 other Kingfishers, and of a flesh-colour : it hath 

 the tail a little longer in proportion than the 

 Common Kingfisher." 



The individuals of this species, like most others, 

 are observed to vary a little in point of plumage; 

 the orange stripe over the eyes, which gives rise 

 to the Linnaean trivial name, being less conspiciir 

 ous in some specimens than in' others; in some 

 also the orange-colour of the throat is continued 

 on each side, so as to form a complete collar round 

 the neck; and lastly, in the female bird the green 

 bar across the breast is wanting. 



