﻿HALCYON DRYAS. 



(WOOD KINGFISHER.) 



Halcyon dry an. . . . Hartl. Journ. f. Orn. 1854, p. 2. 



... „ Orn. Westafr. p. 32 (1857). 



Dacelo „ ... Schl. Mus. Pays Bas, Alced. p. 30 (1863). 



II. maxilla rubra, mandibula nigra : scapularibus nigerrimis : major : capite summo brunneo : dorso, genia, 

 et pectore superiori viridi-thalassinis : hypocliondriis cinereis, thalassino lavatis. Fcem. vix a mari diversa. 



Hab. in regione aquatoriali Africa? Occidentalis. 



Crown of the head brown, tinged with greenish, especially towards the nape ; back 

 sea-green, deeper and more intense on the rump and upper tail-coverts; scapularies and 

 upper wing-coverts deep black; wing-feathers blackish, the outer web shining green 

 towards the base, which is white; tail above sea-green, each feather having the shaft 

 black, and being edged and tipped with the same colour; under surface black, a line above 

 the eye dusky white ; a broad band surrounding the eye and extending backwards along 

 the side of the head, together with a spot at the base of the lower mandible black ; throat, 

 white ; cheeks, sides of the neck and upper parts of the breast shining sea-green ; flanks, 

 thighs, and under tail-coverts ashy tinged with bluish green ; upper mandible deep coral 

 red, under mandible black; feet red; eyes dark brown. Total length 11. Length of 

 bill from front 2, from gape 2.5, wing 4.9, tail 3.5, tarsus .5, middle toe .9, hind 

 toe .4. 



Hab. St. Thomas (Mm. Hanib.), Ilha do Principe (Dohrn; Keuhmans) t Rio Boutry 

 (Pel, Mm. Lugd), Gaboon (Verreaux), Gamma River (Du Chaittu). 



This species is allied to the Ashy-fronted Kingfisher (H. cincreifrom), but may at 

 once be distinguished by its larger and altogether stouter form, as well as by the colour of 

 the head. The sea-green colour of the back is also of another shade, being not so blue as 

 in the former bird, but as this colour vai*ies very much in different lights, it is very 

 difficult to paint or describe it. The differences, however, will be apparent on an 

 examination of specimens. 



The range of the present species does not seem to be as extended as that of most of 

 its congeners, and is apparently confined to the West Coast of Africa in close proximity 

 to the line of the Equator. Of its habits nothing was known until the recent visits of 

 Dr. H. Dohrn and Mr. J. G. Keulemans to Ilha do Principe, and I am indebted to the 

 latter gentleman for the use of his notes on this bird, which were made during his 

 residence in the island, and to which I shall presently refer. 



Additional references. //. dn/as ; Midi. Beitr. Orn. WestnlY. pi. 11. (1854); Verr. Rev. rt. Mag. Zool. 

 1855, p. 272, Cass. Proc. Phil. Acad. 150, p. 34; Keul. Ned. Tidschr. 1866, p. 376, Dohrn, P. Z. S. 1866, 

 p. 325. 



