THE GOMMOH KIWGFISHER 
Akedo atihis btngaUnsu (Gm.) 
Malay name : — Raja udang. 
Dcscnption . — To any reader interested in birds this species 
must be well-known, for not only is it common in Singapore 
but in appearance it is almost identical with the kingfisher 
of the British Isles. Only the specialist recognises the technical 
differences whereby it is separated from its Europeaji cousin. 
The g^round colour of the upper parts is nnetallic greenish- 
blue with bars on the crown and spots on the wings of a 
brig^hter or more vivid screen colour. The underparts are 
perhaps best described in popular parlance as reddish-brown 
or deep tawny or chestnut. On the head the arrangement of 
the colours is rather complicated and there arc broad stripes 
of chestnut and green. The chin and throat are white and there 
are large white spots on the sides of the neck. 
The iris Is brown and the bill black although the greater 
part of the lower mandible is sometimes red. The feet are 
bright red. 
Tlie total length runs to about 7 inches and that of the 
wing between 2f and 3 inches, 
Distributiov hinted at above this kingfisher is at the 
most only a local race, an eastern representative in fact, of the 
common kingfisher of Europe and as such its range may be 
given as tha British Isles and then quite across Asia to Japan 
in the east and then south throughout China, India, Malaya 
and east to the Moluccas. A. hengalensis is slightly smaller 
than the European bird but the two forms appear to pass into 
each other. We have here a good case to illustrate a commoniy 
observed phenomenon in the bird world, viz. that of a species 
in which the southern or tropical forms are smaller than those 
found in more Northern or temperate latitudes. 
This is a common bird in the Malay Peninsu!a. 
Sfaius In Singapore: — Common on the island, especially 
numerous along the sea-coasts, rivers, and creeks but also 
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