BRACHYPODIN^E 



ALCYONES. 



Kingfisher Alcedo. This genus, distinguished by beauty of 

 plumage, though sadly lacking in that of shape, embraces about 

 twenty species. The majority of these belong to Asia, though 

 a few occur also in Africa, Australia, and America. Europe 

 possesses only one species, which also occurs in Heligoland ; and 

 in England the American form Alcedo alcyon has been shot on 

 two occasions. 



222. 1 Kingfisher [EISVOGEL]. 

 ALCEDO ISPIDA, Linn. 



Also called Eisvogel ( = Ice-bird) in Heligoland. 

 Alcedo ispida. Nauinann, v. 480. 



Kingfisher. Dresser, v. 113. 



Martin-pecheur A Icyon. Temminck, Manuel, i. 423, iii. 296. 



This singular little bird, with its plumage of almost tropical 

 brilliancy, its disproportionately large head and bill, and feet 

 almost deformed, is a very rare visitor to Heligoland. It is some- 

 times seen once or twice in the course of a year, and then again 

 for several years is not observed at all. The examples which have 

 been met with here frequented stones washed over by the sea, and 

 the rubble at the base of the cliff. 



The bird is a resident in central Europe and Asia. In the 

 north its breeding range does not extend further than southern 

 Sweden, where, however, it occurs only sparingly. 



Merops Bee-eater. In display of colours, the plumage of the 

 species of this genus considerably surpasses that of even the pre- 

 ceding genus ; while the lines of the body, leaving out of considera- 

 tion the somewhat large bill and small feet, are very pleasing, 

 approaching those of the Swallow. About twenty species are com- 



1 By request of the author the order in which the species are treated has from 

 this point to No. 240, on page 437, been changed from that of the original, as well 

 as from No. 311, on page 518, to the end of the book. 



420 



