( 8 ) 
7he Great Kin g-f i s h e r from the River Gambia. 
F O R Bignefs, this Bird equals,, if not exceeds, the Mijfel 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 fhort; the Bill is long and draight, pretty 
thick towards the Head, ending in a fharp Point, of a bright Scarlet-colour j the upper 
Mandible is channelled on each fide, in which Channels areplaced the Nodrils, pretty 
near the Head; the Angles or Corners of the Mouth are deep cut, and fall directly 
under the Eyes; under each Eye is a narrow Border of white Feathers; the Head, 
Neck, whdle under Side, and part of the Back, are cover’d with dirty Orange-xolour’d 
Feathers : the Chin and Bread 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 foremod of the prime Quills are black ; tho’ 
the upper Part of the Wing be modly 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.greenifh Cad; 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 was preferv’d in the Collection of Mr. Feter Collinfon> 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 King-jifher 
from Bengal ; but there is fo much Difference, that they mud be two different Spe¬ 
cies : I have feen both the Birds; Albiris is in Mr. Dandridge s Collection in Moor- 
Jieldsy which has convinced me they are fpecifically different, more than if I had feen 
only Drawings of thefe two Birds. See Albiris Figure and Defcription., Vol. 3.. p. 27. 
of his Hiftory of Birds . 
7he 
