from the colony of Natal in South-eastern Africa. 243 
they feed during the night, they settle on the ground and watch 
for insects as they pass. The stomach of one specimen sent was 
filled with winged ants. The eye is large; the iris dark brown. 
30. Caprimulgus natalensis (Smith). Natal Goatsucker. 
This species does not roost in trees, but always on the 
ground amongst the grass, and when disturbed alights again in 
the grass. They feed principally on beetles, which they swallow 
whole. Iris dark brown. 
31. Halcyon fuscicapilla (Lafr.). Brown-hooded King¬ 
fisher. 
[Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres.—J. H. G.] 
32. Ceryle maxima (Pallas). Great African Kingfisher. 
Eye nearly black ; bill black. These birds frequent the 
rivers and lakes, and are not found far from the coast. They 
feed entirely on fish, which they dart on from their perch on a 
bough above. When flying, they make a loud chattering noise, 
audible at a great distance. They generally roost at night at 
the same pool and on the same pond for a length of time, wan¬ 
dering away in the day-time and returning at night. I find in 
some of them intestinal worms (somewhat similar to the Wire- 
worm of England), which eat into their flesh and entrails, but do 
not seem to injure the health of the bird. 
[Dr. Hartlaub, in his admirable work on the birds of West 
Africa, treats Ceryle maxima of Pallas and Ceryle gigantea of 
Swainson as distinct species, but states that “ it is not without 
some consideration” that he has adopted that opinion. Although 
I feel much diffidence in expressing a dissent from Dr. Hart- 
lauVs conclusion, I must state that such evidence as I have been 
able to obtain appears to me to be adverse to the opinion of 
these two supposed species being really distinct. And I am the 
more disposed to think they are the same, because their alleged 
distinctness rests much upon differences of measurement, which, 
it appears to me, must not be relied on too minutely. As an 
example, I may mention that six specimens from Natal in the 
present collection do not entirely agree in measurement either 
with the dimensions assigned by Dr. Hartlaub to Ceryle maxima 
or with those assigned to C. gigantea . 
