20 BELTED KINGFISHER. 



black, spotted with- white; secondaries, the same on the in nor 

 webs. The tail feathers black, elegantly spotted with white 

 on the inner webs, and slate blue on the outer; beneath it is 

 light coloured; legs, very short, dull yellowish, bare for half 

 an inch above the knee. The two outer toes are united 

 together for nearly their whole length ; claws, strong and black. 

 The female is sprinkled all over with spots of white. Head, 

 deeper coloured than the back; the white on the chin and 

 throat is of an exquisitely fine glossy texture, like satin ; the 

 band on the breast is nearly halt' reddish brown, and a little 

 below it is a band of bright reddish bay, spreading on each 

 side under the wings; the feathers on the breast are very 

 strong and stiff. 



