Illustration of Indian Ornithology. 



by Sonnerat should have given a prior name, and Sonnerat's bird prove identical with ours' 

 as I suspect it will. 



The purple 3 toed Kingfisher is a rare bird on the continent of India. I have 

 obtained it in the Carnatic, and know that it has been found, though rarely, on the west 

 coast, and in the Deccan. Mr. Blyth has not, that I am aware, obtained it from the vicinity 

 of Calcutta, but has received specimens from Arracan where it appears not very uncommon, 

 and thence it extends southward through the Malay peninsula, and many of the Isles. 



I append a brief description. — Head and neck above of a rich sienna red, upper tail 

 coverts and tail the same but, much dashed with shining lilac. A dark blue spot on forehead, 

 and another of a brighter tinge over and behind the ears, this latter bordered beneath by a 

 white mark. A stripe of beautiful glistening lilac from centre of eye above, extending 

 over the blue spot. Back black, dashed with blue, wings black, coverts edged with dark blue, 

 chin, throat and neck whitish.sides of head, and body beneath ,rufous yellow. Bill and legs red. 



Length 5 inches. Wing 2;^, Tail 1;^, Tars n, Bill (front) 1^, 



The other species of this group is the Al. Madagascanensis L., Rufous Kingfisher 

 Latham No. 36., Javan Kingfisher Lath. No. 59., A. purpurea var. apud Shaw., Martin- 

 pecheur roux de Madagascar, P. E. 778.1., A. iridaclyla, Jard. and Selby Ill.Orn. pi. 55.2, 

 and perhaps the A. tridactyla of Horsfield. 



This is not found in the continent of India, but occurs in the south of the Malay 

 peninsula, and thence extends eastward to the Isles. 



The Kingfisher described by Sonnerat in his " voyage" pi. 32, as Le Martin- 

 pecheur de I'isle de Lutjon, the Luzonian K. of Latham No. 58, is perhaps the same as the 

 subject of our present plate. If not, it will form a third and closely allied species. 



The New Holland 3 toed Kingfishers have been separated from Ceyx by Swainson, 

 under the name oi Alcyone. Two species are described. Ist^^. azurea (Lath.), ./I. trihrachys, 

 Shaw, N. M., Ceyx azureus, Jard. and Sleby, 111. Orn. 55. 1., Ceyx cyana,'Lesson, A aus- 

 tralis, Sw ; and 2nd C Menitigting Lesson, Zool. de la Coquille, which would appear to be 

 distinct from Horsfield's A. Meningting, and is certainly so, from the A. biru of the same 

 author, which the writer of the article ' Kingfisher,' in the Penny Cyclopedia erroneously 

 identifies with it. This species (from new Guinea) appears very closely allied to //. azurea. 



