ALCEDINJE. MEIIOPS. 
87 
The Kingfishers are extensively distributed over the con- 
tinents of Africa, Asia, part of Europe, the Indian Islands, 
and Australia. They feed on small fishes and insects, which 
they procure by darting upon them from an elevated place. 
They generally nestle in holes, and are of solitary habits. 
39. Alcedo Ispida. Halcyon Kingfisher. 
Upper part of the head and the wing-coverts dull green, 
spotted with light blue ; middle of the back and the rump 
glossy light blue ; throat and a patch on the side of the neck 
yellowish-white ; lower parts yellowish-red ; upper mandible 
dark brown, as are the margins and tip of the lower, the other 
parts pale orange ; tarsi and toes orange-red, claws dark 
brown. Adults exhibit considerable difierences in the tints 
of the colours. The young have the upper parts deep bluish- 
green, the lower yellowish-red, the feet flesh-coloured, shaded 
with blackish. 
Male, 7;j? 19^, fV* Eemale, 7^ 10. 
This beautiful bird is permanently resident, and generally 
distributed, but no where common, and very rare in the north- 
ern parts. It feeds on minnows and other small fishes, nestles 
in holes in the steep banks of streams, and lays five or six 
eggs, which are broadly ovate, pure white, eleven-twelfths of 
an inch in length, nine-twmlfths in breadth. Its flight is direct 
and rapid. Assuming a station on a stone, stump, or rail, it 
waits an opportunity of darting upon its prey. 
Common Kingfisher. 
Alcedo Ispida, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 179. — Alcedo Ispida, 
Temm. Man. d’Ornith, i. 423. — Alcedo Ispida, Macgillivray, 
Brit. Birds, iii. 67 1^ 
GENUS XXIV. MEROPS. BEE-EATER. 
Bill longer than the head, somewhat arched, pentagonal 
at the base, then four-sided, compressed and tapering to a 
point ; upper mandible with the dorsal line arcuate, the 
ridge carinate, the sides sloping, the edges sharp, and desti- 
tute of notch, the tip acute ; lower mandible with the angle 
short, the dorsal line slightly arcuate, the ridge narrow, the 
tip acute ; gape -line arcuate, commencing beneath the eyes. 
Both mandibles internally concave, the upper with three 
prominent lines. Nostrils broadly elliptical, or roundish, 
nasal membrane short. Eyes of moderate size. Aperture 
