73 



LONG-SHAFTED KINGFISHER. 



Alcedo Dea. A, nigro ccerulea, siibtus suhrosaceo-alba, rectricibus 



duahus intermediis longissimis. 

 Dark-blue Kingfisher, subrosaceous white beneath, witli the two 



middle tail-feathers very long. 

 Alcedo Dea. A. rectricibus duabus intermediis lon^issimis medio 



aifenuatis, corpore nigro ccerulescenfe, alis mrescentibus, jjn. 



Syst, Nat. Lath. ind. orn. 

 Avis paradisiaca ternatana. Seb, mus. 1. t. AQ.f. 3. 

 Martin-pecheur a longs brins. Buff. ois. PI, Enl. l\6, 

 Ternate Kingfisher. Lath. syn. 



This highly elegant bird departs in some degree 

 from the rest of the genus Alcedo in point of habit, 

 and would perhaps be arranged under a distinct 

 genus by an ornithologist solicitous of scrupulous 

 exactitude. Linnaeus^ however, placed it among 

 the rest of the Kingfishers, and I shall, in the pre- 

 sent instance, follow his example. 



The Alcedo Dea or Long-Shafted Kingfisher 

 seems to have been first described and figured in 

 the magnificent work of Seba, under the title of 

 Avis Paradisiaca Ternatana, or Ternate Paradise- 

 Bird. His description, however, is but slight, and 

 the figure not entirely correct. A highly accurate 

 description occurs in th^ Ornithology of Brisson, 

 accompanied by a very exact figure. The size of 

 the bird is that of a Starling, and its length, from 

 the tip of the bill to that of the tail, is thirteen 

 inches and three lines; the wings, when closed, 

 reach only about an inch beyond its base: the 



