66 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



with black ; under parts rufous, mingled with black ; ear- 

 tufts and chin white ; spot near nostril rufous ; bill and legs 

 black. 



Tliis beautiful little kingfisher is abundant throughout the colony, 

 wherever a stream or marsh exists which can supply it with its 

 necessary food. It breeds in banks, and lays four or five glistening 

 white eggs so transparent that the yellow yolk shines plainly through 

 the shell. I have not myself seen the nest ; but have been assured by 

 many who have, that it consists of nothing but the bones of the 

 delicate little fish upon which the bird habitually feeds. 



107. Alcedo Quadribrachys. (Temm.) B P . 



Consp. I., p. 158. Strick. and Jard, Centri., 18-51, 

 p. 134, PL 79. 



BODY above, cheeks, neck, and breast, blue-black ; top of 

 head barred with black ; ears and throat fulvus ; below 

 reddish. Length, 6" 5'" ; wings, 2" 10'" ; tail, 1" 5"'. 

 Natal : Mr. Ayres,- Ibis Vol., 1859, p. 245 sed non vidi. 



108. AlcedO NatalensiS, Smith, Contributions 

 to Nat. His. of S. Africa. 



FRONT, top of head, and nape, deep indigo-blue, variegated 

 by pale blue, or violet transverse bands ; sides of head and 

 neck light reddish-brown, with tints of purple ; back fine 

 bright-blue ; shoulders blackish, with a shade of blue, in 

 addition to numerous spots of clear light-blue ; chin and 

 throat white ; breast, belly, and vent, pale . chesnut ; tail 

 dusky- blue. Length, 4". 



Inhabits the banks of rivers, &c., to the eastward of Kafirland. Dr. 

 Smith, loc. cit., non vidi. I cannot trace this species in any author, 

 and fancy it must be identical with Halcyon Cyanotis. 



Genus CERYLE, Boie. 



Bill long, straight, and strong, with the culmen slightly 

 advancing on the forehead, and sloping to the tip, which is 

 acute; the sides much compressed ; the lateral margins rather 

 dilated at the base, and straight to the tip ; the gonys long 

 and ascending. Tail long, broad, and rounded. Tarsi re- 

 markably short and stout. The remaining characters very 

 similar to those given with Alcedo. 



109. Ceryle Maxima, Pallas ; Ispida, Gigantea, 

 Swain., B. of W. A, PL 11, p. 93 ; Alcedo Afra, Shaw. 



HEAD crested ; the whole of the upper plumage and breast 

 bluish-grey, spotted with white; belly and vent deep 



