THE BIKDS OF SINGAPORE ISL.AND 
[The kingfisher in Great Britain is so intimately associated 
with streams and lakes that one is at first perhaps rather 
surprised to find in Singapore that some of the very handsome 
and big^ forms seem to be just as content away from water as 
in its vicinity ; and in the case of the two species figured in this 
book this fact is very noticeable: indeed: **kinghunters" is 
a name often applied to this group of the Family. 
The common Indian kingfisher (Alcedo bengalensis) 
which, though rather smaller than, is almost a replica of the 
English bird, may be seen any day in Singapore oxi the coasts, 
in the creeks or even in gardens usually perched motionless on 
a branch or flying straight like a huge topaz to another coign 
of vantage: it feeds chiefly on small fish and breeds in holes 
in banks: it is known as "Rajah udang Kechil". 
The white-collared kingfisher and the Malayan whjte- 
breasted kingfisher are typical kinghunters and both are 
abundant in Singapore Island and have rather similar habits. 
Both frequent the shore as well as compounds qnite away from 
water, though the latter is perhaps less of a marine species 
than the former : both are very noisy with harsh loud crackling 
notes though the white-breastod bird makes the most clatter: 
they are both bold large birds^ with very handsome plumage in 
which blues and greens chiefly catch the eye but can very easily 
be distinguished by the fact that the fonTier has a black bill and 
greenish grey legs and the latter a red bill and red legs. 
All kingfishers lay several white eggs and usually nest in 
holes in banks or trees : both the species figured are no excep- 
tion to the rule. Fish (though neither of the two are divers 
like the common Indian kingfisher), crabs, lizards, water- 
insects, spiders, and it is said even butterflies and mice form 
their dietary.— J. A. S, B.]. 
