fan-like crest, which is of a malachite-green colour barred with black.
Total length, 5'2 to 6 inches; bill, 1*8; wing, 2'3. South African
birds are rather larger than those from Western or North-Eastern
Africa.
Young birds have the bill blackish, the whole of the colouring
duller than in the adults, and may further be told by the bars of light
cobalt on the upper Surface.
Fig. Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. pi. xi.
1 0 5 . C ery l e r u d is . Pied Kingfisher.
This species is not uncommon, and is widely distributed. We
have seen it about “Salt River,” near Cape Town, but in greater
numbers about the rivers, lakes, and estuaries of the Knysna, and
have received it from Kuruman, Oolesberg, and Kaffraria. Mr.
Chapman found it all the way to Lake N’gami. It hovers over the
water while fishing, and plunges under the surface in pursuit of its
prey. It breeds in holes hollowed by itself in sandy banks. We
took a nest (Nov. 10th, 1865,) in a bank of Zoetendals Vley, which
was placed at the- extremity of a small- hole, more than two yards
deep. It was composed entirely of fish-bones and scales; and the
eggs, six in number, were of a lovely shining white, almost similar
in shape at each end: axis, 1 4 '" ; diam., I I " '. At the time we
took them, the young were nearly ready for exclusion.- We also
found them breeding in great numbers along the Berg River in
September, and we there took thirty-nine eggs in one day.
It must certainly be found plentifully at the Knysna, for Mr.
Andersson’s collections contained many examples, and Yictorin
found it in the same locality from March to May, and in the months
of July, September, and October. At Port Elizabeth it is extremely
common, according to Mr. Rickard, but is not quite so plentiful at
East London. Mr. Ayres states that in Natal it frequents the lakes
and rivers near the coast, but is not found in the interior. Mr. T.
E. Buckley writes:—“ This bird is pretty common in Natal, but
much more so on the Limpopo, in the north of the Transvaal, where
I found its nest in a hole of the bank, but as the ground was hard,
I was unable to get the eggs. Its absence in the Matabili country
is accounted for by the rivers being mostly sand-rivers in the part
of th e ' country I visited.” Dr. Kirk says it is abundant on all
rivers and lakes throughout the Zambesi region.
CERYLE MAXIMA. I l l
Mr. Andersson observes :—“ I do not remember to have seen this
bird in Damara Land proper, but have occasionally met with it along
the periodical watercourses and temporary rain-pools of Great
Namaqua Land, and I have reason to think it may be found permanently
on the banks of the Great Pish River, where large pools
of water, containing fish, exist at all times of the year.'” Senor
Anchieta has met with the species at Capangombe and Gambos in
Mossamedes, on the Rio Coroca, and more recently on the Cunene
River. It is also found in Angola, and indeed all over Africa.
Adult male.—Head crested, black, striped narrowly with white,
plainer on the cheeks; a broad superciliary line extending downwards
on to the sides of the neck, white; the rest of the body black
varied with white, the latter colour predominating on the lower parts
of the back and rump ; quills black, white at the base, the secondaries
barred with white, the primaries externally white at the base,
forming a large white patch; tail feathers black, spotted and tipped
with white; under surface of the body pure white with two black
bands across the breast; a few black marks on the flanks, and sometimes
a few spots on the throat; bill and feet black; iris dark
brown.
Adult female.—Similar to the adult male, but has only one band
across the breast.
You/ng.—Similar to the adults, but the plumage above almost
entirely black, and the breast marked with grey edgings to the feathers,
giving a barred appearance, the band across the breast not
complete.
Fig. Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. pi. 19.
106. C ery l e maxima. Great African Kingfisher.
This is the largest of the South African Kingfishers, and is very
widely distributed : it is not at all uncommon, but is migratory and
we do not know anything of its nidification. It frequents the “ Salt
River,” and other small streams in the neighbourhood of Cape Town,
perches on trees, and is wary and difficult of approach. It is very
common at Zoetendals Vley and along the River Zonder End. Mr.
Rickard reports it from Port Elizabeth, and informs us that it is
common at East London, being very numerous in May; some stay
all the year, frequenting both the beach and river, and feeding on