154 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



about twelve inches. The female is like the male, but the 

 colours are not quite so bright. The young resemble the 

 adults, but the bill is considerably shorter, and the under 

 parts are paler in colour. 



Common IRingfisber. 



THE Common Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida, Linnaeus) is a 

 resident species in the British Islands, and is also found 

 throughout the year in the temperate parts of the Western 

 Palearctic Region. The adult male has the top of the head 

 black, closely barred or spotted with bright cobalt -blue, 

 tinged with greenish; centre of back, azure-blue; tail, deep 

 blue; moustachial line, greenish-blue, marked with cobalt- 

 blue, yellowish; lores and ear-coverts, chestnut; wing- 

 coverts, dark green, with spots of cobalt; outer webs of 

 primaries, deep blue; throat, white; under parts, yellowish- 

 chestnut; irides, dark brown; bill, black, base, reddish; 

 legs and feet, red. Length, from five to six inches. The 

 adult female is duller in plumage than the male; bill, orange 

 at base beneath. 



