﻿LITERATURE. 



I have been induced to go rather fully into the subject of the works examined in 

 connexion with the present Monograph, under the impression that a literary history of 

 the Alcedinidce will be of use to the future student of the family. I have had the advan- 

 tage of the Zoological Society's Library at my command ; and I cannot sufficiently express 

 my gratitude for the facilities afforded me by Dr. Sclater and the Council for pursuing 

 my studies while in their service. In order to render the treatment of the subject more 

 plain, I have adopted the method of the characterization of ornithological detail perfected 

 by my friends Professor Newton and Dr. Hartlaub in their Zoological Records. 



Linnjsus, C. Systema Naturae, torn. i. 8vo, 1766, p. 178. 



The genus Alcedo is described. The following species are included : — 



1. Alcedo cristata ; 2. A. inda; 3. A. ispida; 4. A. erithaca; 5. A. madagascariensis ; 6. 



A. super ciliosa; 7. A. alcyon; 8. A. torquata; 9. A. capensis; 10. A. senegalensis ; \\. A. 



smyrnensis ; 12. A. rudis; 13. A. dea; 14. A. paradisea ; 15. A. galbula. 



Of these, A. erithaca and A. dea (ex Briss. and Seba) are not determinable, while A. 



paradisea and A. galbula are not Kingfishers, but Jacamars (Galbulidce). All the others 



are recognizable at the present day. 



Vosmaee, A. Beschryving van twee zeer fraaie, Kortstaartige Oost-Indische Ys-Vogeltjes, 

 4to, 1768. 



A plate of these two Kingfishers is given, showing them to be Ceyx tridactyla (Pall.) 

 and Ceyx rujidorsa, Strickl. 



Pallas, P. S. Spicilegia Zoologica, Fasc. 6, 4to, 1769. 

 Alcedo tridactyla is a new species. 



Alcedo maxima is a new species from the Cape of Good Hope. 



Latham, Dr. J. General Synopsis of Birds, vol. ii. 4to, 1772, p. 607. 



The author enumerates the following species, to which, however, he does not apply 

 Latin appellations. Those in italics not determinable : — 



1. Great Brown Kingfisher (ex Sonn.). 2. Cape Kingfisher (A. capensis, Linn.). 3. Great 

 African Kingfisher (A. maxima, Pall.), cum var. A (ex Buff. PI. Enl. Q70 = Ccryle maxima 

 (Pall.)). 4. Black and White Kingfisher (A. rudis, L.). 5. Egyptian Kingfisher (ex Hasselq. 

 It. p. 245). 6. New Guinea Kingfisher (ex Sonn. Voy. p. 171, t. 107). 



7. Smyrna Kingfisher (A. smyrnensis, L.), cum var. A, Great Gambia Kingfisher. Latham 



