( 8 ') 
’The Great King-fisher from the River Gambia. 
F or Bignefs, this Bird equals, if not exceeds, the Miffel Bird or 
Greater 7 hrujh ; it is great-headed, fhort-necked, the Body neither 
over-long or round, the Tail is long, the Wings pretty long, the Legs 
very fliort ; the Bill is long and ftraight, pretty thick towards the Head, 
ending in a (harp Point, of a bright Scarlet-colour ; the upper Mandible 
is channelled on each Side, in which Channels are placed the Noftrils, 
pretty near the Head ; the Angles or Corners of the Mouth are deep 
cut, and fall direftly under the Eyes ; under each Eye is a narrow Bor- 
der of white Feathers ; the Head, Neck, whole under Side, and part 
of the Back, are cover’d with dirty Orange-colour’d Feathers ; the Chin 
and Breaft lighter than the Back; in the Middle of the Bread, fome of 
the Tips of the Feathers are White ; the Wings are Purple, in the upper 
Part the greater Feathers being Blue, yet the foremoft of the prime Quills 
are Black ; tho’ the upper Part of the Wing be moftly Purple, yet there 
is a narrow Space of Blue runs round the Purple ; the Ridge of the 
Wing is White ; the lower Part of the Back and Rump is of a Blue- 
Green, changeable Colour; the Wing-feathers, which border on the 
Back, partake of the fame changeable Colour ; the Tail is of a fine 
Blue-colour, yet it in fome Lights has a greenifii Caft ; the Legs and 
Feet are of a Red-colour, with black Claws; the middle and outer Toe 
joined together, as in our King-jijher. This Bird w^as preferv’d in the 
Colledion of Mr. Peter Colinfon, who on all Occafions has been my 
Friend, and helped me to many curious and uncommon Birds : He 
told me this Bird came from the River Gambia. 
Albin has publifhed a Bird fomething like this, which he calls the 
Large Kingfjher from Bengal-^ but there is fo much Difference, that 
they muff be two different Species : I have feen both the Birds ; Albino 
is in Mr. Dandridge\ Colledion in Moorfields, which has convinced me 
they are fpecifically different, more than if I had feen only Drawings of 
thefe two Birds. See Albino Figure and Delcription, Vol. 3. 27. of 
his Hijiory of Birds, 
The 
