ALCEDINyT.. MEROPS. 87 



The Kingfishers are extensively distributed over the con- 

 tinents of Africa, Asia, part of Europe, the Indian Islands, 

 and Australia. They feed on small fishes and insects, which 

 they procure by darting upon them from an elevated place. 

 They generally nestle in holes, and are of solitary habits. 



39. ALCEDO ISPIDA. HALCYON KINGFISHER. 



Upper part of the head and the wing-coverts dull green, 

 spotted with light blue ; middle of the back and the rump 

 glossy light blue ; throat and a patch on the side of the neck 

 yellowish- white ; lower parts yellowish-red ; upper mandible 

 dark brown, as are the margins and tip of the lower, the other 

 parts pale orange ; tarsi and toes orange-red, claws dark 

 brown. Adults exhibit considerable differences in the tints 

 of the colours. The young have the upper parts deep bluish- 

 green, the lower yellowish-red, the feet flesh-coloured, shaded 

 with blackish. 



Male, ?i 10J, 3 A, H, ^, if, T V Female, 7, 10. 



This beautiful bird is permanently resident, and generally 

 distributed, but no where common, and very rare in the north- 

 ern parts. It feeds on minnows and other small fishes, nestles 

 in holes in the steep banks of streams, and lays five or six 

 eggs, which are broadly ovate, pure white, eleven-twelfths of 

 an inch in length, nine -twelfths in breadth. Its flight is direct 

 and rapid. Assuming a station on a stone, stump, or rail, it 

 waits an opportunity of darting upon its prey. 



Common Kingfisher. 



Alcedo Ispida, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 179. Alcedo Ispida, 

 Temm. Man. d'Ornith, i. 423. Alcedo Ispida, Macgillivray, 

 Brit. Birds, iii. 671. 



GENUS XXIV. MEROPS. BEE-EATER. 



Bill longer than the head, somewhat arched, pentagonal 

 at the base, then four-sided, compressed and tapering to a 

 point ; upper mandible with the dorsal line arcuate, the 

 ridge carinate, the sides sloping, the edges sharp, and desti- 

 tute of notch, the tip acute ; lower mandible with the angle 

 short, the dorsal line slightly arcuate, the ridge narrow, the 

 tip acute ; gape-line arcuate, commencing beneath the eyes. 

 Both mandibles internally concave, the upper with three 

 prominent lines. Nostrils broadly elliptical, or roundish, 

 nasal membrane short. Eyes of moderate size. Aperture 



