238 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 



129.— Halcyon smyrnensis, Lin. 



Five males. — Length, 10*1 to 11 '35 ; expanse, 16*6 to 17*6; 

 wing-, 4-65 to 4-9 ; tail, 32 to 3*65 ; tarsus, 0-54 to 06; bill 

 at front, 2-02 to 225; bill from gape, 2-52 to 2-8; closed 

 wings short of tail, 1*9 to 2'1 ; weight, 2"75 to 3'5ozs. 



Two females. — Length, 10'5 to 11*5; expanse, 16"5 to 17*7; 

 wing, 4'8 ; tail, 34 to 3-5 ; tarsus, 0-6 to 065 ; bill from 

 gape, 2"35 to 2*65; bill at front, 1-9 to 225; closed wings 

 short of tail, 1-9 to 2*3 ; weight, 2*7 to 3'5ozs. 



Bill dark red, brighter at base of lower mandible, and the 

 tip orange to brownish; irides dark brown; feet duskv 

 reddish, the posterior aspect of the tarsus and the soles 

 deep red ; claws brownish black, in immature birds pale horny 

 at the tips. 



The Smyrna Kingfisher is common in the valley of Nepal, 

 where it frequents the skirts of all the woods in the central part 

 of the valley, and the neighbourhood of brooks, tanks, and 

 rice fields. I can hardly doubt that it is a permanent resident 

 in the valley, but 1 certainly never once noticed it during the 

 mouths of April, May, and June (its breeding season), where- 

 as it is always very prominent during the other nine months 

 of the year. It was tolerably common in the Nawakot 

 district in November. This Kingfisher seems to prefer the lower 

 branches of small trees for a perch, but it may be often seen 

 high up on a pine or blue gum tree ; its loud harsh scream is 

 uttered when it takes wing, but it has another prolonged and 

 almost musical note which it gives forth from its perch. 



134.— Alcedo bengalensis, Gm. 



Nine specimens. — Length, 5 '85 to 6*8; expanse, 10 to 10*6; 

 wing, 2-76 to 3; tail, 1-4 to 1-63 ; tarsus, 0-3 to 0-35 ; bill 

 from gape, 1*8 to 2*05 ; bill at front, 1*35 to 1*6; closed wings 

 short of tail, 0-4 to I'O. 



Bill black ; a small space at base of lower mandible brown or 

 reddish brown ; irides dark brown ; gape orange red ; feet 

 coral red, tinged dusky in front, — in young birds the tarsus 

 and toes dusky in front ; claws black. 



This Kingfisher is common in the valley of Nepal, the Nawakot 

 district, and the Markhu Valley. It is usually found along 

 the course of the streams. 



136.— Ceryle rudis, Lin. 



The Pied Kingfisher was only noticed once in the Nawakot 

 district in November, hovering over a stream. 



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