4474 THE ZooLoGist—JUNE, 1875. 
1. Halcyon fuscicapilla.—This kingfisher is rather less in size 
than the common thrush. It is a beautiful bird, its plumage being 
dark blue on the back, wings and tail; under parts speckled, 
being yellowish with the centre of the feathers dark; head ashy 
gray; bill and legs red. It is not naturally so shy as most of the 
species, and will often perch on a branch near you, seeming to 
regard you with much curiosity, particularly if you happen to be 
working in your garden, when it will descend and carry off any 
worms or slugs you may turn up. ‘This bird does not confine 
itself to a fish diet, but feeds largely on insects of various kinds. 
It is very fond of crabs, from which it has been called the “ crab- 
eater”: it is frequently seen a long distance from water. We once 
kept a pair of these birds several months in a large cage: they 
were easily reared on finely-cut meat, varied occasionally by fish and 
worms when they could be obtained. In confinement they uttered 
a few loud shrill notes, the same as they make in their wild state. 
These kingfishers are evidently hardy birds, and if supplied with 
plenty of water for bathing are not difficult to keep. Lately we took 
an egg from the same nest that the young birds came from; it is 
perfectly round, an inch in diameter, and looks as if it had been 
cut out of smooth white marble. The hole was made in the bank 
of the river, and was well lined with pellets of fish and insect- 
bones. 
2. Halcyon natalensis.—One can scarcely imagine a more lovely 
little bird than this: it is scarcely three inches in length ; in colour 
glossy blue, with purple reflections above; the breast and belly 
orange-red, with feet and bill of a delicate pink. This bird is not 
so often seen as the former species, owing to its more retiring 
disposition and its making the denser parts of the woods its haunt. 
Here it may be frequently found near some small stream or water- 
course, where it can easily get a plentiful supply of water-insects, 
which we think must be almost its sole food. A specimen we took 
to England was greatly admired. 
8. Alcedo semitorquata (our blue kingfisher) is entirely of a deep 
blue, with the exception of the breast and belly, which are pale 
chestnut in the adult bird: young birds that we have taken were 
spotted on the breast. It is abundant throughout Natal, and may 
be seen flying rapidly up and down the rivers within a foot or two 
of the water, uttering its shrill but not unmusical cry. It lives 
entirely on fish, and never quits the bed of the stream. This 
