ALCEDO BIRU. 



the first, and the characters of both genera are clearly defined. In the Museum of 

 Joshua Brookes, Esq. of Blenheim Street, the second genus is distinguished by the 

 name of Entomophila, from the Manuscripts of Dr. Leach ; and the characteristic 

 name of M. Le VaiUant, which has been applied to the second section of the genus 

 Alcedo, in the Catalogue above mentioned, (p. 173,^ has there suggested the name 

 of Entomothera. 



The Alcedo Biru is by no means uncommon in Java. I observed it chiefly 

 in the interior, in low situations ; but it is also found in the maritime districts. Its 

 habits and manners are those of the European Kingsfisher. It darts in short, rapid 

 flights along the surface among rivulets and lakes, emitting as it moves shriU 

 sounds in a high key. These sounds are so strong and acute, that when the bird is 

 near, they strike the ear in an unpleasant manner. Our bird is not unfrequently 

 observed perched on trees on the banks of rivulets. Its food, as in the European 

 species, consists of small fishes, and of aquatic insects. 



The Alcedo Biru has the general proportions of the birds belonging to the fii'st 

 section of Alcedo. The body is slender. The entire length is five inches and one 

 fourth. The bill measures one inch and six lines. Tlie feet and the tail are short. 

 The colours are very simple. The whole of the upper parts, with a broad band 

 covering the breast, have a beautiful tint, varying according to the light to which the 

 bird is exposed, from pure azure-blue to sea-green. The throat, the lower part of the 

 neck, the abdomen, the vent, the wings underneath, a line extending from the base 

 of the bill to the anterior angle of the eye, and a rhomboidal mark on the side of the 

 neck, are white. The extremity of the wings, and the tail underneath, have a dark 

 brown colour inclining to black, which is more saturated on the bill and feet. The 

 blue colour of the upper parts is subject to a few slight modifications : on the crown 

 of the head, and on the neck, it is variegated with transverse undulations of a brown 

 tint : this tint agreeing with that of the extremity of the wings, also appears 

 in the base of the. silky plumes which cover the back. The coverts of the wings 

 have also transverse bands of a darker tint. The colour of our bird changes with 

 its relative position to the light : it assumes various tints, fi:om pure azure to blueish 

 green, and to saturated verdigris-green. The white mark on the neck behind the 

 ears, is formed by a loose tuft or series of plumes of a white colour, exceeding the 

 other plumes in length, and provided at the extremity with long delicate sUky barbs. 



In the Plate which illustrates this article, our bird appears in its greenish lustre, 

 which is most intense on the lower part of the back, and on the coverts of the tail. 



