I 
ALCEDO BIRU. 
the first, and the characters of both genera are clearly defined. In the Museum of 
Joshua Brookes, Esq. of Blenheim Street, the second genus is distinguished by the 
name of Entomophila, from the Manuscripts of Dr. Leach ; and the characteristic 
name of M. Le Vaillant, which has been applied to the second section of the genus 
AJcedo, in the Catalogue above mentioned, (p. 17$,) has there suggested the name 
of Entomothera. 
The Alcedo Biru is by no means uncommon in Java. I observed it chiefly 
in the interior, in low situations ; but it is also found in the maritime districts. Its 
habits and manners are those of the European Kingsfisher. It darts in short, rapid 
flights along the surface among rivulets and lakes, emitting as it moves shrill 
sounds in a high key. These sounds are so strong and acute, that when the bird is 
near, they strike the ear in an unpleasant manner. Our bird is not unfrequently 
observed perched on trees on the banks of rivulets. Its food, as in the European 
species, consists of small fishes, and of aquatic insects. 
The Alcedo Biru has the general proportions of the birds belonging to the first 
section of Alcedo. The body is slender. The entire length is five inches and one 
fourth. The bill measures one inch and six lines. The feet and the tail are short. 
The colours are very simple. The whole of the upper parts, with a broad band 
covering the breast, have a beautiful tint, varying according to the light to which the 
bird is exposed, from pure azure-blue to sea-green. The throat, the lower part of the 
neck, the abdomen, the vent, the wings underneath, a line extending from the base 
of the bill to the anterior angle of the eye, and a rhomboidal mark on the side of the 
neck, are white. The extremity of the wings, and the tail underneath, have a dark 
brown colour incUning to black, which is more saturated on the bill and feet. The 
blue colour of the upper parts is subject to a few slight modifications : on the crown 
of the head, and on the neck, it is variegated with transverse undulations of a brown 
tint : this tint agreeing with that of the extremity of the wings, also appears 
in the base of the silky plumes which cover the back. The coverts of the wings 
have also transverse bands of a darker tint The colour of our bird changes with 
its relative position to the light : it assumes various tints, from pure azure to blueish 
green, and to saturated verdigris-green. The white mark on the neck behind the 
ears, is formed by a loose tuft or series of plumes of a white colour, exceeding the 
other plumes in length, and provided at the extremity with long delicate silky barbs. 
In the Plate which illustrates this article, our bird appears in its greenish lustre, 
which is most intense on the lower part of the back, and on the coverts of the tail. 
