KINGFISHERS. 



337 



Northern Asia one, and the remaining seven are Indian and Malayan. 

 Our Common Kingfisher (A. ispida), is the brightest of our indigenous 

 biids, and forms the most beautiful ornament of our 

 risers and lakes. It is 7f inches in length, with a chest- 

 nut under-surface and a brilliant cobalt-blue back, 

 which shows vividly when the bird flies. It nests 

 in holes, mostly in banks of sandy soil, where the 

 tunnel is hollowed by the birds themselves, or in 

 holes of trees, sometimes at a considerable distance 

 from water. 



In Africa and Madagascar occur the Crested King- 

 fishers (Corythornis), small birds with a long drooping 

 crest, and in Australia and the Moluccas, the three-toed 

 Kingfishers (Alcyone), which have the shape and fish- 

 catching habits of our own A . ispida, but are of 

 a dull purple colour, and have only three toes 

 instead of four, the hind-toe being absent. 



In this sub-family the bill is shorter and wider, the tail generally long, 

 and the food of the species consists less of fish than of insects, small 

 Crustacea, reptiles, and even small rodents. 



The first genus is Ceyx, a small form of Kingfisher which frequents 

 forests rather than streams. The members of this genus have a wider 

 and less compressed bill than those of Alcyone, but 

 like the latter genus they have only three toes. They are The Insectivorous 

 found in India and the Malayan sub-region, being very 



Fig. 71 THB COMMON 



KINGFISHER 

 (Alcedo iapida). 



Kingfishers. 

 Sub-family 



-Dacelonince. 



abundant in the Philippines and extendingto the Moluccas. 



They are mostly bright-coloured birds, some being of a 



beautiful red all over, whilst others have a blue back 



and resemble species of the genus Alcedo. In Africa they are represented by 



a genus of tiny Kingfishers (Ispidina) which are also insect-eaters, as are 



also the allied genera Ceycopsis of Celebes and Myioceyx of Western Africa. 



From these small forms we pass to the Reptili- 

 vorous Kingfishers, the Crested Kingfishers 

 of Malacca and Borneo (Carcineutes), the Hook- 

 billed Kingfisher (Melidora), and Shoe-billed 

 Kingfisher (Clijtoceyx) of New Guiana, and the 

 Laughing Jackasses of Australia (L'acelo). Of 

 the common Laughing Kingfisher, the ** Jack- 

 ass " of the Australian colonists, we have the 

 following account of Mr. Gould's: "In its 

 disposition it is by no means shy, and when 

 any objects are presented to its notice, such 

 as a party traversing the bush or pitching their 

 tent in the vicinity of its retreat, it becomes 

 very prying and inquisitive, often perching on 

 the dead branch of some neighbouring tree, 

 and watching with curiosity the kindling of 

 the fire and the preparation of the meal ; its 

 presence, however, is seldom detected until 

 it emits its extraordinary gurgling, laughing 

 note, which generally calls forth some exclama- 

 tion according with the temper of the hearer, such as ' There is our old 

 23 



Fig. 72. THR LAUGHING KING- 



FISHER 



(Daceto gigas). 



