IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 243 



Length of life in captivity. 



A specimen lived for about six months only. As it is a well-known 

 bird, no great trouble has ever been taken to exhibit it. 



(134) THE LITTLE INDIAN KINGFISHER. 

 (ALCEDO BENGALENSIS-G^J.) 

 Bengali — Chota Mdchch-rdngd, 

 Hab. — India, Ceylon, Burmah, Malayana, &c. It has an exten- 

 sive distribution, being found in Eastern Africa, Siberia, Japan and 

 the islands of the Malay Archipelago ; often found in a wild state 

 within the garden. 



(135) THE INDIAN STORK-BILLED KINGFISHER. 

 (PELARGOPSIS GUKIAL— {Pears.) ) 

 Bengali — Gurial. 

 Hab.— Found almost all over India, Ceylon, and even Malayana; 

 common in Bengal. 



(136) THE WHITE-BREASTED KINGFISHER. 



(HALCYON SMYKNE:NSIS-(Z^.) ) 



Hindi — Kilkila. Bengali — Maohch-rdngd. 



Hab. — Common throughout the greater part of India, up to the 



base of the Himalayas, Ceylon, Burmah, and through the Indo- 



Burmese countries to China. 



(137) THE LAUGHING KINGFISHER. 

 (DACELO GIGANTEA— {Lath.) ) 

 Hab. — Australia. 



Length of life in captivity. 



A specimen of the Indian stork-billed kingfisher has been living 

 for the last three years. A laughing kingfisher lived for about Seven 

 months. 



Treatment in health. 



Homing. — The best possible way of keeping kingfishers is to 

 give them accommodation similar to that assigned for ducks and other 

 smaller aquatic birds (p. 306). The next best is to keep them with the 



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