Birds of Celebes: Alcedinidae. 
261 
strokes, and a velocity that can beat that of a dragon-fly, having captured which, 
it flaps along in more measured time, now and then soaring with outspread 
wings”; or with Col. Legge’s: “the Blue-tailed Bee-eater congregates in large 
flocks on the wing, dashes to and fro for hours together, ascending to a great 
height in pursuit of its prey, and keeping up its not unpleasant notes without 
intermission” (Dresser, pp. 59, 60). Other observers write similarly. The genus 
Merops is consequently as valueless as Rhptidoceros for questions connected with 
geographical distribution; Nyctiornis and Meropoyon, on the other hand, may well 
be species which by reason of their habits have remained quietly settled in their 
peculiar habitats since subsidences of land took place and the sea gradually 
worked its channels. Like as was seen to be the case among the ill-flying Horn- 
bills, Borneo, Sumatra and Malacca have one species of Nyctiornis, viz. N. amictus, 
in common; while Celebes has its own peculiar genus, Meropogon, a form perhaps 
of equal value with the Plornbill, llhabdotorrhinus. To make the sequence per- 
fect, Java and the Philippines should also each harbour a corresponding genus; 
it is, of course, still possible that such will be found there. 
FAMILY ALCEDINIDAE. 
Perhaps the best means of distinguishing a Kingfisher (except from the 
Bee-eaters) is furnished by its foot, which is small and feeble with the anterior 
toes xrnited for the greater part of their length, only the distal phalanx (circa) 
and the claw being free, the inner toe small, in one genus quite abortive, in 
others absent. J'he bill is straight, usually pointed, in a few genera having a 
terminal hook to the culmen, often very long, never appreciably shorter than 
the large head, the nostrils linear, exposed, more or less covered above with 
a membranous operculum, and situated in the side of the maxilla, often over- 
reached by the frontal jrluraage. The wing is generally short and rounded, but 
sometimes of a fair length; the tail variable; the legs very short and weak. 
Blue is the most characteristic colour, occurring as it does — though not in all 
genera or species — in very pure and brilliant tints; xufous, purple, brown, 
black, white, and green are also freqxient colours, but pure red and especially 
pure yellow are very rare. The smallest Kingfishers of the genus Ceyx are 
less than a Sparrow in size, the largest, Nacelo, as large as a Crow. Ihe family 
is cosmopolitan in its distribution. 
For some anatomical peculiaiities see Blanford, faun. Br. Ind. B. Ill, 
1895, 118; Cunningham, P. Z. S. 1870, 280. 
The Kingfishers prey upon fish, insects, reptiles, etc. — some genera ex- 
clusively on fish. They have the habit of watching for their prey. They nest 
in holes, usually in the ground, and lay white eggs. 
