230 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



This very lovely species is scattered, though far from com- 

 mon, over all India, with Ceylon. Col. Sykes procured it in the 

 Deccan ; but it seems to be a coast bird, for the most part. I 

 obtained it in Southern India ; and it has been killed near 

 Calcutta. It appears to be more common in Malayana. It 

 feeds exclusively on small fish and aquatic insects. 



Another species, C. rufidorsa, Strickland, has only been found 

 in Malayana. Its colors much resemble those of Halcyon Coro- 

 mandelicus. Two or three more occur in the Eastern islands ; 

 and that of the Phillipines (C. luzoniensis) is perhaps the most 

 beautiful of them all. Another pretty group of small three-toed 

 Ivinrrfishers is found in Australia, and the neis-hbourino; isles, 

 Alcyone, Sw. These have the bill of Alcedo ; and belong to 

 the next sub-family, 



Sub-fam. ALCEDININiE. 



Bill longer, more slender and compressed, acute, grooved near 

 the culmen for the greater part of its length; gonys nearly straight. 



This group contams the more typical Kingfishers, which live 

 almost exclusively on fish or other aquatic food. It comprises 

 species from all parts of the world, the American forming a parti- 

 cular section of the genus Cerijle. 



Gen. Alcedo, Lin. (in part.) 



Char. — Bill long, slender, straight, compressed, tip acute; culmen 

 sharp, carinatcd, not inclined ; commissure straight ; 2nd and 3rd 

 quills sub-equal, 3rd slightly the longest, 1st very little shorter ; 

 tail very short, even ; feet weak, inner toe very short, equal to the 

 hind toe, both lateral toes syndactyle. 



The species of this genus are spread over most of the Old World : 

 they include the well known European Kingfisher. 



134. Alcedo bengalensis, Gmelin. 



Sykes, Cat. 34— Jerdon, Cat. 247 — Bltth, Cat. 214— 

 Horse., Cat. 1G2— A. ispidioides. Lesson — Edw. PI. II— Cliota 

 Mlkila, H. — Cliota match-ranga, Beng. — Nila buclie (/adu, Tel. — 

 Vng-clihn-pho^ Lepoh, i. c. ' water Sasia.' 



