SMYRNA KINGFISHER. 219 



former being in immature plumage. The following is 

 an extract from this paper: — 



"During my residence at Smyrna in the winter of 

 1835-6, I fiiiled in meeting with any traces of this 

 bird, although two other species of Alcidinidce, namely, 

 Alcedo ispida, Linnseus, and Cerijle rudis, Hasselquist, 

 were not infrequent. The Halcyon smyrnensis , however, 

 belonging as it does to an insectivorous genus, which 

 is rarely met with far beyond the tropics, could 

 hardly be expected to occur so far north as Smyrna 

 in the depth of winter. Failing in this attempt, I 

 took occasion, at a later period, when supplying that 

 ardent and philosophic zoologist, Mr. Edward Forbes, 

 with a list of ornithological desiderata to be sought for 

 in the Levant, to call his particular attention to the 

 long-lost 'Smyrna Kingfisher,' and I am happy to say 

 his researches have at last been crowned with success. 

 In a letter from him, dated Maori, on the coast of 

 Lycia, at the end of February last, (1842,) he says, — ■ 

 'One of the sailors has just shot a large Kingfisher, 

 which I take to be the one wanted. Three or four 

 have been seen, but not got at. The Common King- 

 fisher is also very abundant, or something like it. The 

 large bird was brought alive: its plumage is very 

 beautiful. I have drawn it, and Graves is this moment 

 skinning it; we shall send the skin to you by an early 

 opportunity.' 



"Through the kindness of Captain Graves this speci- 

 men has since been forwarded to me, and on comparing 

 it with a series of specimens from India, it turns out 

 to be in every respect specifically identical with them. 

 It is in full adult plumage, possessing the rufous 

 lesser and black medial coverts which distinguish the 

 perfect bird in India. We may therefore henceforth, 



