BLACK AND WHITE KINGSFISHER.

Alcedo rudis, Linn.
Le Martin Pécheur Pie.

Aurxouau the continents of Africa and Asia constitute the natural habitat of this species, still from its occur-
rence in some of the islands of the Grecian Archipelago, it is necessarily added to the Fauna of Europe,
although it is but a rare and accidental visitor. It is abundantly dispersed over the whole of Africa, particu-
larly on the banks of the Nile and the other rivers of Egypt, as also those of Syria and the adjacent countries.
The discovery of this Kingsfisher in a quarter of the globe where until lately only a single species had been
found, renders it a bird of great interest, and we regret that we cannot lay before our readers any authentic
information relative to its peculiar habits and manners. In the third part of his ‘“‘ Manuel” M, Temminck
merely states that it feeds on fishes, and lays white eggs. In the form of its bill and in its general structure, it
so nearly resembles the Alcedo ispida, that although differing from it in size and in the character of its plu-
mage, we may reasonably suppose its general economy to be in strict accordance with that species.
_ As is the case with most species of its tribe, the plumage of the sexes is very similar ; the female and young,
however, appear to have the chest crossed with a somewhat narrow and single band of white, while the male
has two bands, the upper one of which becomes very broad towards the shoulders, and gradually diminishes
towards the middle of the chest ; in other respects they are so similar that one description will be sufficient.
Crown of the head and occiput black ; the whole of the upper surface varied with numerous bars of black
and white, the latter colour terminating and bordering all the feathers ; a black band extends from the angle
of the beak and spreads over the ears; all the under parts white except the bands of black, which extend
across the chest ; primaries black ; tail white at the base, the remainder barred with black and white ; bill
black ; feet reddish brown.

The Plate represents a male and female of the natural size.