220 SMYRNA KINGFISHER. 



without hesitation, retain the original specific name, 

 of smyrnensis for the specimens from India no less 

 than for those of Asia Minor; and from the proximity 

 of the latter country to Crete and the Morea, we 

 may anticipate the future admission of this beautiful 

 and interesting species into the fauna of Europe." — 

 ("Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist./' vol. ix, first series, 

 1842, p. 441.) 



It is singular that this clear statement should have 

 been misunderstood by some of our best ornithologists, 

 who are under the impression that Strickland made 

 the two birds distinct. Even Mr. Jerdon, in his des- 

 cription of this bird in his recent publication, "The 

 Birds of India," fell into this mistake, which, however, 

 he has corrected in his errata. . Mr. Jerdon has also 

 fallen into the error of giving Boddaert's name of fuscus 

 to -this bird, but this arose from the first mistake. 

 Notwithstanding, however, Mr. Jerdon has given us an 

 interesting description of what is far more important, 

 namely, the bird's habits, which I will quote. It will 

 be seen that it is partly insectivorous, which I pre- 

 sume may be said equally of our own Kingfisher, could 

 we follow it in its diving excursions. 



"This well-known Kingfisher is very abundant in 

 most parts of India, and is found throughout the whole 

 peninsula and Ceylon, up to the base of the Himalayas, 

 and extending through all the countries to the east 

 as far as China." 



"It prefers a wooded country, but is not found in 

 thick forests; and it is to be met with about most large 

 villages and cantonments. It frequents banks of rivers 

 and brooks, edges of tanks, as also the neighbourhood 

 of wells and wet paddy fields; but it is as frequently 

 found away from water, in groves of trees, gardens. 



