A L C E D O azurea. 

 Azure Kingsfisher. 



Generic Character. 

 Rostrum longissimum, rectum, aftenuatum, altiiis quam latius, in toturn compreS' 

 sum, mandibulis carlnutis ; marginibus luteraUhus leviter irijisxis. Nares 

 hasalcs, memhrana tecla, apei'tura nuda, luiearl, ohliqua ; cauda plcrum- 

 que hrevisslma. Pedes grcssorli, diglto antico interiorc minmo uut nulla, 

 Typus Genericus Alcedo ispida. Linn. 

 Bill very long, straight and attenuated, higher than broad, compressed the 

 whole length, both mandibles carinated, the margins slightly bent 

 inwards. Nostrils basal, covered by a membrane ; the aperture linear, 

 oblique, and naked. Tail mostly very short. Feet gressorial, inner 

 fore-toe small or wanting. 



Generic Type Comjnon Kingsfisher. Lath. Bewick, &c. 



Specific Character. 

 A.corpore supra, capitis laterihus colloque nitido cyaneis; subtus rufis; mento 



gulaqne albescentibus, alis nigricantibus ; digito antico interiore nullo. 

 Body above, sides of the head and neck shining mazarine blue ; beneath 

 rufous : chin and throat whitish ; wings blackish ; inner fore-toe 

 wanting. 

 Alcedo azurea. Azure Kingsfisher. Lath. Synop. Suppl. ii. p. 372. 



Lewins Birds of New Holland, fuse. i. pi, 1. 

 Alcedo Tribrachys. Tridigitated Kingsfisher. Shaw in Gen. Zool. viii. 1 . 105. 



1 HE Kingsfishers have such a general similarity of form, that the 

 most casual observer is able to distinguish them : a very long- 

 straight bill, short wings, and (in general) a shorter tail with very 

 small legs, are the prominent distinctions of such as are usually 

 seen ; and the richness of plumage that generally pervades them 

 cannot be better exemplified than in our own beautiful species, the 

 common Kingsfisher, not unfi^equent in many parts of England. 



These birds, hitherto placed in systems under one genus, 

 nevertheless contain two distinct groups differing materially in 

 the construction of that primary organ of supporting life, the 

 bill ; and in their physical distribution, or the countries they re- 

 spectively inhabit, two most important considerations in the na- 

 Pl. 26. 



