90 cassell's book of birds. 



the purple kingfisher. 



The Purple Kingfisher {Ceyx tridactyla), one of the most remarkable members of this family, 

 is of a bright orange, gleaming with peach-colour on the back, and shading from rust-red into 

 chestnut-brown on the neck and sides of breast; the rest of the under side is saffron-yellow. The 

 large wing-covers are deep black, the shoulders and exterior borders of the wings chestnut-brown, 

 the quills blackish brown, with a rust-red edge to the inner web ; the tail-feathers are rust-red. This 

 species is five inches long and eight broad ; the wing measures two inches and a quarter, and the 

 tail three-quarters of an inch. This beautiful bird is met with over the whole extent of India and 

 Ceylon, but is nowhere numerous. Fish and some of the smaller inhabitants of the water constitute 

 its usual food. 



The GREY KINGFISHERS i^Ccryk) exhibit, in an eminent degree, the admirable skill with 

 which their bodies have been adapted to the situation they are destined to occupy in the great 

 scheme of creation. Although resembling the True Kingfishers in many particulars, their wings are 

 considerably longer and more pointed than in those birds, and far more available as instruments of 

 locomotion ; the long, straight beak is compressed at its sides, and pointed at its tip ; the almost 

 lustreless plumage is of comparatively sombre hue, and differs more or less in the sexes. Most of 

 the numerous members of this group inhabit America ; some few are met with in Asia and Africa, 

 while Europeans may lay claim to one species that may now be regarded as naturalised, on account 

 of the frequency of its visits to our continent. 



THE GREY KINGFISHER. 



The Grey Kingfisher {Ceryle riidis) is chequered blue and white on the mantle, with a white 

 under side, relieved by two black lines upon the breast, and dark spots upon the sides ; the top of 

 the head and the cheek-stripes are black, the eyebrows black and white, the white tail-feathers are 

 crossed by a black line near the extremity, the eye and foot are brown, the beak is black. This 

 species is ten inches long and eighteen broad ; the wing measures five and the tail three inches. 

 The female has but one black hne upon her breast. 



The Grey Kingfisher is met with in almost every part of Africa, in Syria, Egypt, Palestine, 

 Persia, and, we believe, in India ; in Europe, as far as we can ascertain, it has only been seen in 

 Greece and Dalmatia. Unlike the true Kingfisher, this bird exhibits a most social disposition, and 

 prosecutes its search for food in spots constantly frequented not only by cattle, but by man. The 

 chase after fish is sometimes carried on from the top of a post or projecting branch, sometimes 

 while the bird is hovering over water, into which it plunges headlong at the first appearance of 

 a suitable victim, which is borne off to some favourite perch, and there devoured, after (as is 

 frequently the case) it has been struck repeatedly against the branch or post. When in pursuit 

 of food, the Grey Kingfisher flies over the surface of the water with a Falcon-like motion, rising and 

 sinking rapidly through the air, and varying its movements with equal adroitness and grace. During 

 the daytime it is comparatively quiet, but towards evening begins to disport itself in this manner, 

 accompanying its movements by a loud, shrill, monotonous cry. According to our own experience, 

 the breeding season commences in Egypt about March or April. Tristram informs us that the 

 nests made by this bird in Palestine are placed in settlements formed in the steep banks of rivers. 

 Some which he examined had their entrances not more than four inches above the level of the 

 water; each of these entrance-passages was about three inches and a half deep, and led into the 

 actual nest; a few fish-bones and a little grass had been placed to for.n a bed, on which the eggs 



