302 HALCYON PILEATA. 



the Sundcrbunds than elsewhere in India. It lias not, I believe, been found anywhere to the west of Lower 

 Bengal. In Burmah it is common near the sea, though rare up at Thayetmyo. Mr. Armstrong writes : — 

 " This beautiful Kingfisher formed a marked characteristic of the avifauna belonging to the Irrawaddy 

 delta. It was to be seen everywhere. It was abundant among the mangroves on each side of every creek 

 and nullah; the shore-jungle along the coast from Elephant Point to China-Ba-kccr resounded with its 

 discordant cry." It is found in Tenasserim and throughout the Malay peninsula, where it is far from 

 uncommon, inhabiting likewise the islands in the Bay. In these, however, it is rare, both as regards the 

 Nicobars and the Andamans. Mr. Davison saw it at Trinkut and Kondul in the former, and Mr. Hume has 

 received it from Port Blair, Andamans. It is known from both Java aud Sumatra, and Count Salvadori 

 includes it in his ' Birds of Borneo/ where also Mr. Alfred Everett has of late years procured it. Further 

 north it is an inhabitant of China, in which country, Mr. Swinhoe remarks, it is found from Canton to 

 the Yangtsze, and is rare in the neighbourhood of Amoy. Dr. Zelebor, who accompanied the ' Novara ' 

 Expedition, found it at Hong Kong. 



Habits. — This species loves thickly wooded estuaries and brackish creeks such as are found in the great 

 Sunderbunds near Calcutta, in the delta of the Irrawaddy, and other similar localities, in the impenetrable 

 jungle of which it passes a generally unmolested existence, feeding ou the crabs which abound in the muddy 

 creeks and nullahs. These crustaceans form its favourite food. Mr. Armstrong says that in the Irrawaddy 

 delta " under every little projecting twig along the sea-shore a quantity of white excreta and the remains of 

 the legs and bodies of small crabs showed where one of these birds had been making its dinner and indulging 

 in its siesta. Each bird appears to have its own favourite watch-tower, and when disturbed flies away with 

 a shrill cry, taking a semicircular stoop to some dry twig on ahead, and as soon as it thinks that the 

 danger is passed by returns again to the post froni which it has been dislodged." Captain Wimberley, 

 who shot this bird at Port Blair, says it is excessively shy and wary, and that he had to go out day 

 after day before he could procure it. It has a harsh crowing call according to Jerdon, and which is 

 described by other writers as discordant. Dr. Zelebor likens it to the cry of the European Great Spotted 

 Woodpecker. 



The Chinese, with their usual admiration for the feathers of Kingfishers, put those of this species also to 

 ornamental purposes, using them for the manufacture of their fans. 



I am unable to give any information concerning the nesting of this species. 



Genus CEYX. 

 Bill much as in Halcyon, the culmen less keeled. Wings with the 1st quill as long as in 

 Alcedo, and the 4th not much shorter than the 3rd. Tail short and broad at the base, rounded 

 at the tip. Tarsus much shorter than the anterior toes ; inner toe wanting ; claw of outer toe 

 very short. 



