ALCEDO. CERYLE. 81 



p. 255 ; Gray, p. 36 ; Yarr. ed. 2, ii. p. 223 ; id. ed. 3, 

 ii. p. 228 ; Gould, ii. pi. 10 ; Harting, p. 34 ; Dresser, 

 V. p. 113. 

 The Kingfisher, Yarr. ed. 1, ii. p. 206. 



Ispida = the Kingfisher, in late Latin ; said to be from hispidus = rough, 

 hairy, prickly, because of the fish-bones strewn along the burrow in which it 

 builds. 



Generally distributed, though nowhere very common, 

 throughout Great Britain and Ireland. It inhabits the entire 

 temperate portions of the Western Palsearctic Region. In 

 India and China it is replaced by A. bengalensis ; but inter- 

 mediate forms occur. 



Genus CERYLE, Boie, Isis, p. 316 (1828). 



Ceryle, from K^puXos = a sea-bird (perhaps Ceryle rudis, cf. Sundevall, 

 Thierarten des Aristot. 1863, p. 133) well known to the Gt-reeks. 



Ceryle alcyon. Belted Kingfisher. 



Alcedo Alcyon, Linnceus, S. N. i. p. 180 (1766). 



Ceryle alcyon, Gray, p. 37 ; Yarr. ed. 3, ii. p. 236 ; Harting, 

 p. 124. 



Alcyon = oXkviIiv, the Kingfisher, in classical Greek. Etymology unknown ; 

 often written halcyon, because of the fancied deriration from oiXs = the sea. 

 Of. alcedo, and 0. H. G. alacra = " a Merganser." 



One was reported in co. Meath, October 1845 (Ann. & 

 Mag. -Nat. Hist. 1844, p. 430; 1845, p. 69; 1846, p. 313), 

 and another in co. Wicklow, November 1845 (Thompson, 

 Nat. Hist. Ireland, Birds, vol. i. p. 373). It inhabits North 

 and Central America and the Antilles. 



Family CORACIID^. 

 Genus CORACIAS, Linnaeus, S. N. i. p. 159 (1766). 



Coraxms = KopaKtas, like a Crow, icopa?. A kind of Chough in Aristotle, 

 H. A. ix. 24, 6. 



