﻿CERYLE GUTTATA. 



(HIMALAYAN SPOTTED KINGFISHER.) 



Alcedo guttatus, 

 Megaceryle guttata, . 



Vigors, P.Z.S. 1830, p. 22. 



Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 10 (1854). 



C. sexibus simillibus : dorso fusco, nigro et albo transfasciato : minor. 



Hab. in plaga Himalayana. 



Head crested, black varied with white; upper surface of the body greyish-black 

 banded with white; quills and tail black, spotted and banded with white; under-parts 

 white, the upper part of the breast and flanks irregularly banded and spotted with grey ; 

 bill blackish horn-colour ; irides dark brown ; legs brownish black. Total length 12 inches, 

 of bill from front 2.4, from gape 3.5, wing 7.0, tail 4.2, tarsus 0.3, middle toe 0.95, hind 

 toe 0.2. 



Hab. Himalaya (Jerdon.) 



Having given a full detailed description of Ceryle lugubris, which C. guttata exactly 

 resembles, I have contented myself with the above very short diagnosis of the present 

 species ; it will, however, be sufficient to distinguish it from its congener. Its geogra- 

 phical area seems to be confined to the Eastern Himalayan region. Mr. Hodgson obtained 

 it in Nepal, and Colonel Tytler remarks (I.e.), that he "saw very few on the Tonse and J umna 

 rivers, and none at any elevation beyond the height of the rivers." — Dr. Stolickza (I.e.) 

 also states that it " occurs on the small streams beyond Rampoor, beyond Gaora and 

 Serahan, up to an elevation of 7,000 feet ; in Kashmir it is very common." 



Mr. Jerdon remarks that this species "has only been found in the Himalayas, frequent- 

 ing wooded streams and rivers, and living exclusively on fish. It watches from a fixed 

 perch, and darts down generally obliquely on its prey, not hovering, like its congener of 

 the plains. I saw it near Dargeeling, up to 5,000 feet of elevation." 



Additional references.— Alcedo guttata, Gould, Cent. Himal. Birds, pi. 5 (1832). Ceryle guttata, Gray, Gen. 

 of Birds, I, p. 82 (c. 1844), id. Cat. Fiss. Brit. Mus. p. 60 (1848), Blyth, Cat. Birds Mus. As. Soc. Beng. p. 48 

 (1849), Eeich. Handb. Alced. p. 21, t. ccccix,fig. 3104 (1851), Cass. Cat. Hale. Phil. Mus. p. G (1852), Horsf. and 

 Moore, Cat. Birds Mus. E. I. Co. I, p. 132 (1854), Gray, Cat. Mamm. and Birds of Nepal, p. 57 (1803), Beavan, 

 Ibis, 1865, p. 408, Tytler, Ibis, 1868, p. 196, Stolickza, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1868, p. 19. Megaceryle guttata, 

 Cab. and Heine, Mus. Hein. th. II, p. 149 (1860). 



