﻿This beautiful Kingfisher comes from Java, to which island it seems to be entirely 

 confined. It is by no means a common bird in collections, and little is known of its habits 

 and general economy. 



Mr. Wallace has with his usual kindness given me his experience of the present species 

 during his residence in Java, as follows : — 



" Iris dark brown ; bill and feet coral-red ; length of a fresh specimen lOf inches. I 

 found this species in East Java frequenting the banks of streams shaded by forest. It often 

 perched high up on the branches, but in other respects resembled our own Kingfisher in its 

 habits." 



I have already referred to the very interesting notes on Javanese birds by the Vicomte 

 de Bocarme, published by Professor Schlegel in his " Catalogue." The following observa- 

 tions of this nobleman are extracted thence : — 



" In Java it is frequently observed on the dry hedges in the rice-fields, where it is 

 continually pouncing on earth-worms, crabs, little fish, molluscs, &c. It likweise devours 

 snails with their shells It i? also found in the stunted copses of thorns and bamboo. In 

 the forenoon during the months of January and February, the male, perched on the top of 

 a tree, utters his call-note, u tai-ta'i-tai-i-i-i" ; to his affectionate greeting the female arouses 

 herself, leaps high into the air, and replies with an answering cry, " cri-tri-tri-i-i." I took 

 two eggs of this bird in May, in a hole dug in the earth which filled a cleft in the rock ; 

 their form is round and their colour white. Its flight is sluggish, and it is accustomed often 

 to settle on the ground." 



I should be ungrateful were I to close this article without recording my sincere obliga- 

 tions to my kind friend Mr. W. J. Fraser of Soerabaya, who has taken a great deal of 

 trouble to procure me specimens of Javanese Kingfishers. Of the present species he has 

 sent me home several in spirits which I hope to turn to good account when the anatomy is 

 considered. In one of his letters he informs me that unlike Alcedo beryllina, which is found 

 on the sea-coast, Halcyon cyanoventris is only met with inland. 



The description, measurements, and figure are from a beautiful skin purchased of Mr. 

 G. Adolphe Frank, junior, who in his capacity as a Natural History Agent has been instru- 

 mental in procuring me many rare species of Kingfishers. 



