102 ALCEDININ.E. 



Head and hind -rieck dusky, the feathers edged with pale 

 blue a ifou- !){^ from the base of the nostrils to the end of 



the ^ear-coverts^; 'below this a dark band, extending down the 

 Aides'. . 01 tK^'nec^ . followed by a white patch; scapulars dull 

 green;' 'back, rump, "and upper tail-coverts pale blue ; wings and 

 tail dull green-blue ; the wing-coverts speckled with pale blue ; 

 quills dusky on their inner edges ; chin and throat white, the 

 rest of the lower plumage bright ferruginous. 



In young birds a bluish-green tinge is the prevalent tint ; 

 in adults a pure blue. 



The Indian Kingfisher is commonly distributed throughout 

 the district, but it occurs more rarely in Sind, where it is 

 replaced by the next species ; with this exception it is a 

 permanent resident, breeding from March quite to the end of 

 May and occasionally later ; the nest-hole is pierced in the 

 bank of a stream, invariably according to my experience over 

 running water ; the eggs, five or six in number, are broadish 

 ovals, white and beautifully glossy. They measure 0'8 in length 

 by 0'68 in breadth. 



Alcedo ispida, Lin. 



134fo's. Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 111. 

 THE EUROPEAN KINGFISHER. 



Length, 6'8 to 7'5 ; expanse, 10 to 11 ; wing, 2*95 to 3' ; bill, 

 at front, 1'4 to I '6. 



Bill above blackish-brown, at base and beneath reddish- 

 orange ; irides hazel ; legs orange-red. 



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

 margined on the sides of the gape and crossed below the eye 

 by a narrow black streak ; sides of the neck with a white patch 

 commencing from behind the ear-coverts ; 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 color ; 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. 



The European Kingfisher occurs commonly in Sind, where 

 it takes the place of A. bengalensis ; the latter, however, is not 

 altogether absent, but only occurs as an occasional seasonal 

 visitant. 



Its nesting arrangements are similar to those of its relative, 

 A. bengalensis. 



Alcedo beavani, Wald. 



Butler, Deccan ; Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 383. 



