Recentli/ published Ornithological Works. 095 



1907-1912. Prof, Uiierden has carried out a number of 

 Sjreediug and other experiments, with a view to improviiii^ 

 tlie quality and quantity of feathers produced, with most 

 happy results, and M. Menegaux here presents this for the 

 benefit of French colonial farmers. 



Miller on the Kingfishers. 



[A Revision of the Classification of the King-fishers. By W. de W. 

 Miller. Bull. Amer. Museum Nat. Hist. New York, xxxi. 1912, 

 pp. 239-811, pis. XXV., xxvi.] 



In this carefully reasoned paper, Miller proposes to revise 

 the classification of the Kingfishers. Sharpe in his " Mono- 

 graph of the Kingfishers," published in 1871, recognised 

 two subfamilies only : — 



Alcedininse, including Rhamphaleijon {Pelargopsis), 



Cerxjle, Alcedo, Curythurnis, and Alcyone. 

 Dacelonin^, containing all the other genera. 



Sharpe's division was based to a great extent on the habits 

 of the bird, the first-named subfamily being largely pisci- 

 vorous, the second bush-loving and feeding on insects and 

 reptiles. 



jNIiller proposes to recognise three subfamilies : — 

 Cerylinse with Ceryle. 

 Alcediniupe with Alcedo, Corythornis, Alcyone, Ceyx, 



Ceycopsis, Ispadina, and Myioceyx. 

 Daceloninte with Rhamphalcyon (Pelaryopsis), Halcyon, 

 Dacelo, and the other Australian Bush-King- 

 fishers. 



The Cerylinse are characterised by a narrow crest, a 

 moderately long tail, an interrupted dorsal tract, a bai-e end 

 to the tibia and a long second toe, while the plumage contains 

 no blue and the sexes are alike above, but always different 

 below. This subfamily is found in both hemispheres, but 

 does not extend to the Indo-Malayan or Australian regions. 



The Alcedininae have a flat crest, a very short tail, a con- 

 tinuous dorsal tract, the end of the ti!)ia slightly feathered, 

 and a very short, vestigial or absent second toe, the plumage 



3 A. 2 



