BELTED KINGS FISHER. 
173 
with white ; the interior vanes of the tail feathers, 
elegantly spotted with white on a jet black ground; 
lower side, light coloured ; exterior vanes, blue ; wing- 
coverts and secondaries, marked with small specks of 
white ; legs, extremely short ; when the bird perches, 
it generally rests on the lower side of the second joint, 
which is thereby thick and callous ; claws, stout and 
black ; whole leg, of a dirty yellowish colour ; above the 
knee, bare of feathers for half an inch ; the two exterior 
toes united together for nearly their whole length. 
The female is sprinkled all over with specks of 
white ; the band of blue around the upper part of the 
breast is nearly half reddish brown ; and a little below 
this, passes a band of bright reddish bay, spreading on 
each side under the wings. The blue and rufous 
feathers on the breast are strong, like scales. The 
head is also of a much darker blue than the back, and 
the w r hite feathers on the chin and throat of an exqui- 
site fine glossy texture, like the most beautiful satin. 
