74 PICARIAN BIRDS. 



they move further on, seldom returning to their original perch. Occasionally, as they 

 fly along and are attracted by something in the water below them, they will hover 

 momentarily, after the manner of C. rudis, and then drop perpendicularly down 

 into it ; in these cases, however, they seldom dive to any depth, and do not immerse 

 more than their head and shoulders. The usual cry is much like the typical cry of 

 the family, but it is very loud, and generally uttered in a very quick succession of 

 notes. Besides this cry, it gives a low hoarse croak from time to time when seated 

 in the shadow, which same note is, I think, merely a call to its mate. This sound 

 is very much like the croak uttered by Batorides javanica, and I was for some 

 time under the impression that it was made either by that bird or some other small 

 bittern or egret." 



Typical The common European kingfisher (Alcedo ispida), of which a 



Kingfishers, figure is given on p. 69, is the best known representative of the 

 short-tailed fish-eating kingfishers ; in which section of the family there are three 

 genera, namely, Alcedo, Corythornis, and Alcyone. Of these, the latter is exclusively 

 Australian, and is characterised by having only three toes ; while the second is 

 confined to Africa and Madagascar, and is distinguished by its well-developed 

 crest. The members of the genus under consideration are likewise crested, 

 although to a smaller degree, the feathers giving a pointed form to the structure. 

 Confined to the Old World, these kingfishers are represented by eleven 

 species, three of which are African, five Indian, and two Moluccan, while 

 the remaining one is the common kingfisher, extending all over Europe 

 and North-Western Asia, and represented in Siberia and the Oriental region 

 by a smaller and brighter form, sometimes separated, as A. heugalensis. The 

 common kingfisher is a beautiful bird, of a greenish blue colour ; with the 

 back brilliant cobalt-blue ; the crown greenish blue l^anded with dusky black. 

 Above the lores is a rufous sheath ; the ear-coverts are orange-rufous, succeeded 

 by a band of white feathers on the sides of the neck ; the cheeks light blue, with 

 dusky blackish bars ; the throat bufty white ; the remainder of the under surface 

 rich orange-rufous, with a patch of greenish blue on the sides of the upper breast ; 

 the bill black ; the feet coral-red ; and the iris brown ; the total length being 

 7 J inches. The female, which is a trifle smaller, may be distinguished by 

 having a red base to the lower mandible. In England, owing to the protection 

 which has been afforded to birds on the Thames and other rivers, the kingfisher is 

 now more often observed than it was a few years ago, when it was much sought 

 after for decorating ladies' bonnets. Especially in the autumn, when a considerable 

 migration takes place, kingfishers may be noticed on the rivers in the south of 

 England, and there are few more beautiful sights than one of these birds skimming 

 over the water. Seated under overhanging willows or on an exposed bough or 

 stump, the kingfisher watches patiently for the approach of its prey, when it dives 

 like a flash of lightning under the water. It is, however, by no means always 

 successful in capturing the fish, not unfrequently missing its stroke. Sometimes it 

 maj^ be seen hovering over the water like a kestrel, and dropping like a stone on a 

 fish, when the fish comes near enough ; while at other times it will perch on an 

 overhanging reed, in order to take its dive after its prey. The latter comprises 

 insects as well as fish ; and on the sea-coast, where the bird remains for some time 



