74 



ALCEDINID^ 



CEEYLE 



narrowed in the middle across the breast, and a much narrower 

 one across the lower breast, both black, flanks mottled with black 

 spots. 



Iris dark brown ; bill, legs and feet black. 



Length in flesh 11-5, in skin about 11-0; wing 5-55; tail 3-0; 

 culmen 25 ; tarsus 0'40. 



The female difi'ers from the male in not possessing the second 

 pectoral band ; the front band too is generally more divided in the 

 middle ; wing 540 ; culmen 2-20. 



Breeding birds are usually darker owing to the wearing away of 

 the white margins to the feathers ; young birds have the pectoral 

 bands somewhat ashy and the feathers of the throat and neck 

 edged with dusky. 



Pig. 27.—Ceryle rudis. 



Distribution. — This is a widespread species, being found 

 throughout Africa and south-west Asia as far as the Persian 

 gulf; beyond this in India and southern China it is replaced by 

 another sub-species, only differing from it in minor points. In 

 South Africa it is one of the commonest of Kingfishers, being found 

 everywhere where suitable conditions exist, from the neighbourhood 

 of Cape Town and Durban to the Zambesi. The following are 

 localities : Cape Colony — the Cape, Malmesbury, Worcester, Paarl, 

 Caledon, Bredasdorp, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Port Elizabeth, Peddie, 

 East London, Pondoland, Colesberg, Barkly West, Gordonia, and 

 Bechuanaland divisions ; Natal — near Durban, Escourt, Colenso, 

 and Newcastle; Zululand; Orange Eiver Colony — Kroonstad ; 

 Transvaal — the Potchefstroom and Eustenburg districts ; Ehodesia 

 — Umswesi, UmfuH, and other rivers in Mashonaland ; German 

 south-west Africa — Great Namaqualand, and perhaps Damaraland ; 

 Portuguese east Africa — Tete. 



