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The GREAT KING-FISHER from the River Gambia. 
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Fo OR Bignets, this Bird cae if not Piieeds, the Mije/ Bird or Greater-Thrufh ; 
‘itis great-headed, fhort-necked, the ‘Body neither over-long or round, the Tail is 
ong, the Wings. pretty long, the Le egs very fhort ; the Bill is long and {traight, pretty 
thick towards the Head, ending i in a fharp Point, ofa bright Scarlet-colour ; the upper 
Mandible is channelled on each fide, in which Channels are placed the Nore pretty 
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near the Head; the Angles. or Corners.of. the Mouth are deep cut, and fall direatly 
under the Eyes; under each Eye is a narrow Border of white Feathers; the Head, 
Neck, whole under Side, and f part of the Back, are cover'd with dirty Orange-colour'd 
Feathers: the Chin and Breaft lighter than the Back; in the Middle of the Breaft, 
{ome of the Tips of the Feathers are White; the Wings are Purple, in the upper Part 
the greater Feathers being blue, yet the foretaot of the prime Quills are black ; tho’ 
the upper Part of the Wing be moftly. Purple, yeti there is a narrow Space of bine 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 ; is the Wing- feathers, which border on 
the Back, partake of the fame changeable Colour; 3 the Tail is of a fine Blue-colour, 
yet it in fome Lights has a greenith Caft ; the Legs and Feet are of a Red-colour, with 
black Claws; the middle and outer Toe joined together, as in our King-fifber. ‘This 
Bird was preferv’ din the Collection of Mr. Peter 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 Late King -fifber 
from Bengal; but there is fo much Difference, that they muft be two different Spe- 
cies: Ihave feen both the Birds Albin'sis in Mr. Dandridge’s ColleCtion in Moor- 
fields, which has convinced me they are fpecifically different, more than if I had feen 
only Drawings of thefe two Birds. See /diu’s Figure and Tua Vol. :30:f. 27. 
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