BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 155 



Beltcb ftingfteber. 



JOHN DUNC f\ if 



THE Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon, Linnaeus) is a very 

 rare irregular autumn migrant to the British Islands. This 

 bird hails from North America, and is partially migratory 

 during winter. The general colour of the male above is 

 slaty-blue; shaft of each feather, blackish; the head is 

 furnished with a crest; a white spot before the eye, and 

 a streak of the same beneath it ; quills, basal half, white ; 

 secondaries and wing-coverts, tipped with white; two 

 centre tail-feathers, bluish; remainder, brownish-black, 

 barred with white ; a broad collar of white reaches from 

 the throat over the sides of the neck; chest band, slaty- 

 blue ; under parts, white ; irides, dark brown ; bill, black ; 

 legs and feet, brownish. Length, about twelve inches. 



