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KINGFISHERS. 
The Kingfishers (Malay name 'Rajah udang ' ) are 
cosmopolitan, but no part of the world contains so many 
species as the Malay Archipelago. There are two sub-famil ies 
of them, the fish-eating species, with a long narrow bill, and the 
insect and reptile eating ones, with a stouter and wider bill. 
There are on!y a fuw fish-eating species. The common 
Kingfisher or Raja udang kechil {Alcedo ispida) has a wide 
distribution, over Europe, Northern Asia, India, China and 
Malaya- The Malayan Blue Kingfisher or Binti binti {Akedo 
metihtting) H of a brilliant deep blue colour. Much larger is 
the Malay Stork-billed Kingfisher or Pekaka [Pelargopsis 
malaccensis) which has its English name from its enormous red 
bill. 
The second group of Kingfishers contains many more 
species. Many of them belong to the genus Hakyott and are 
distinguished by their brilliant plumage, in which green and blue 
predominate, like the White-collared Kingfisher {H. chloris), 
the White-breasted Kingfisher (K smyrnensis), and the Black- 
capped Kingfisher (H, pileatns). Smaller are the Banded King- 
fisher or Kengkeng rimba (Carctfieutes pukhelius), and the 
Three-toed Kingfisher (CVjjr trkiactyh). 
BEE-EATERS. 
The Bee-Eaters, or Birik birik, are restricted to the temp- 
erate and tropical parts of the Old World. They are of a 
brilliant plumage, in which green predominates, and have a long 
and curved bill. Their food consists of Insects, which they 
catch on the wing. They breed usually in long tunnels, which 
they build in sandy banks along rivers. The most common one 
in Singapore is the Bay-backed Bee-Eater {Merops sumdtranus). 
The largest is the Red-bearded Bee-Eater {Nyctioniis amicia). 
ROLLERS. 
The Rollers have their name from their curious flight, in 
which they indulge chiefly during the breeding season. The 
Broad-billed Roller or Tiong batu {Emystomus orientaiis) may 
serve as an example of the group. Its plumage is blackish 
brown on head and neck, and dull green, passing into blue, on 
back and wings. In the midst of the blue of the wings there is 
a large sea-green spot. 
