by Mr. Claude Grcuit in South Africa. 709 



412. Ceryle rudis. 



CC. Plettenberg Bay, Mcli. (G) ; Z. Umfolosi Station, 

 July, Aug., Sept. (6) ; Tv. Klein Letaba, Aug., Sept. (8) ,- 

 P. Beira, Feb. (1) ; Tete, Aug., Sept. (2). 



["^ Isicuya " of the Zulus. 



This Kingfisher is quite the commonest in South Africa, 

 and was noted or taken in every locality visited from the 

 Cape to the Zambesi, excepting Namaqualand. It is usually 

 seen in pairs or threes and occasionally fours or halfdozens, 

 the latter probably old and young. It systematically works 

 the water, liovering with the bill pointed vertically down- 

 wards ; on seeing a shoal of fish it shuts its wings, and 

 drops like a stone head first on to its victim, which it 

 devours on the wing if it is small, or, if large, takes to the 

 bank to swallow. 



This Kingfisher perches on reeds, low bushes, and dead 

 branches, and is often seen sitting on the ground, yet it 

 never fishes from such positions, but always on the wing. 

 The cry is a sharp " kwik," and is, I believe, merely a 

 call-note. It is very tame, passing very near when on the 

 wing and fishing within a few yai'ds of people ; when settled, 

 it will allow itself to be approached quite close before taking 

 wing. I have never succeeded in finding the nest of this 

 species. 



The soft parts are : — Irides dark brown ; bill, legs and 

 toes black.] 



413. Ceryle maxima. 



CC. Plettenberg Bay, Mch. (1 ) ; Z. Ngoye Hills, Oct. (2) ; 

 Tv. Klein Letaba, Sept. (2). 



Three eggs taken at Klein Letaba, Sept. 9, measure about 

 4G X 36 mm. 



[I have observed the Giant Kingfisher in the Knysna 

 district of Cape Colony, Zululand, Klein Letaba, and in 

 the Beira, Gorongoza, and Tete districts of Portuguese East 

 Africa. It is everywhere very wild, and nowhere can it be 

 said to be plentiful. Always observed in pairs and frequent- 

 in"' both large and small rivers or streams and occasionally 

 lagoons and lakes, it is perhaps more partial to well- 



SER. IX. VOL. V. 3 IJ 



