THE KINGFISHER. 



31 



The Kingfisher (Alcedo a. ispida). 



paler in centre of belly and under wing-coverts ; tail-feathers 

 greenish-blue, shafts and edges of inner webs dark brown ; wing- 

 feathers black-brown, edges of inner webs paler brown and outer 

 webs (except of 

 2nd primary) 

 g r e e n i s h-blue ; 

 primary - coverts 

 with outer webs 

 greener not so 

 blue ; greater and 

 median coverts 

 dark greenish- 

 blue with small 

 bright blue spots 

 at tips ; lesser 

 coverts greener. 

 This plumage is 



acquired by complete moult Aug. -Nov. Summer. — A moult 

 confined to the body-plumage takes place Jan.-March. New 

 plumage as winter. 



Adult female. — -As male, but usually not quite so brilliant. 



Nestling. — Down absent. Mouth inside flesh, no tongue-spots, 

 externally flanges dull bluish -flesh, bill lead-colour, tip whitish. 



Juvenile. — Like adult but upper-parts duller and more greenish 

 especially bands on feathers of crown ; moustachial stripe much 

 duller ; under -parts especially centre of belly, slightly paler than 

 in adults and feathers of breast tipped grey often with a slight 

 greenish tinge but occasionally grey tips are wanting and such 

 birds are very difficult to distinguish from rather dull adult females. 

 Before juvenile plumage is moulted grey tips of breast-feathers 

 become worn and almost white. 



First winter. — Like adult. The juvenile body-plumage is 

 moulted Aug. -Dec, but not tail- or wing -feathers, nor any wing- 

 coverts. 



Measurements and structure. — (J wing 72-78 mm., tail 33-38, 

 tarsus 9-11.5, bill from skull 40-47 (12 measured). $ wing 74t79. 

 Primaries : 1st minute about three-fourths primary-coverts, 3rd 

 and 4th longest, 2nd and 5th 1-3 mm. shorter, 6th 3-6 shorter. 

 Secondaries : outer ones about equal to 11th primary, tips fairly 

 square, inner ones about equal 6th primary, tips rounded. Tail 

 fairly square, very slightly rounded, 12 feathers, tips slightly 

 rounded. Under tail -co verts nearly reaching tip of tail. Inner 

 toe very short and two outer ones joined for about half their length 

 forming a flat sole. Bill much compressed and tapering to a sharp 

 point. Nostrils slit-like, being almost closed by operculum. No 

 rictal or nasal bristles. Feathers of back of crown and nape and 

 especially of mantle, rump and upper tail-coverts long and rather 

 narrow, and rami of distal portions not connected by radii. 



