118. Halcyon cyanoleuca, Angola Kingfisher.
Halcyon sencg<tl<3)isbst Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 02.
This Kingfisher has the upper mandible red and the lower ono
black, and although very nearly related to the following bird, it may
be distinguished by the blue wash on the head, which is thalassine-
blue, and by the black streak through the eyo produced to the upper
part of the ear-coverts. From II. maUmbica both this species and
H. s&iegatensis may be recognized by their blue scapulars.
In the colony it is scarce : Mr. Atmore procured a specimen at the
Knysna in splendid plumage, and Dr. Exton found it in Mosilikatze’s
country, while Mr. Ayres has collected it at the mouth of Monocusi
river in the north-east of Natal. Mr. T. E. Buckley obtained specimens
on the Limpopo in November, 1878, and writes as follows :—“ Very
common during our journey down in the summer, but not seen in the
winter. It is rather a shy bird, and continually utters a monotonous
whistle. I did not meet with this species except on the Limpopo,
where these birds are most conspicuous objects when on the wing.”
Specimens from the Zambesi are in Lord Walden’s collection.
The following note on the species in South Western Africa is
given by Mr. Andersson:—“ This species is very abundant in
Ondonga. It generally perches on or near the summit of lofty trees,
from whence it sends forth a succession of rather pleasant thrilling or
whirring notes,” Senor Anchieta has also procured it on the River
Cunene, and Mr. Monteiro in Benguela.
A b o v e beautiful thalassine-blue, showing a sea-green tint in some
l i g h t s , especially bright on the rump and outer edge of the secondaries
; a white stripe from the base of the nostrils extending backw
a r d s o v e r the e y e ; feathers at the base of the bill, encircling the
e y e a n d e x t e n d i n g backwards over the ear-coverts deep black; wing-
c o v e r t s j e t b l a c k , o u t e r wing-coverts thalassine-blue; quills black, the
i n n e r w e b white at t h e b a s e ; tail thalassine-blue above, beneath black;
t h r o a t a n d u n d e r wing-coverts pure white; rest of the under surface
o f the b o d y g r e y i s h white, with small transverse cinereous vermicula-
t io n s , and washed i n s om e lights with thalassine lustre; upper mand
ib l e v e rm i l io n , lo w e r mandible black; feet black. Total length,
9 inches; of bill from front, 1*8; from gape, 2*3; wing, 4‘4 ; tail,
2*5; t a r s u s , 0*4; middle toe, 0'7; hind toe, 0 '3 5 .
Fig. Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. pi. 69,'
114. Halcyon »enegalensis. Senegal Kingfisher.
A species with parti-coloured beak like the foregoing, from which
it is separable by its plain ashy grey or brown head and by the
absence of black behind the eyo. Although most of the specimens of
Halcyon which wo have seen from South Africa have belonged to II.
cyamoleuca, we have examined specimens of the true II. smegalerms
from the River Quanza in Mr. Monteiro’s collection, and some undoubted
examples were forwarded from Katcnbella in Benguela by
Mr. Sala : this therefore warrants our including the species in the
present work.
No full description of the bird is necessary, as the above characters
will serve to distinguish it. Total length, 8 inches ; bill, 1 ‘9 ; wing,4'0.
Fig. Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. pi. 70.
115. H a l c y o n m a l t m b i c a . Ashy-fronted Kingfisher.
Halcyon cinereifrons, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 64.
This is altogether a larger species than the foregoing members of
the genus Halcyon, and it may be distinguished at once by its black
scapulars. Its occurrence in Sonth Africa is at present not well
authenticated. A specimen supposed to be from Natal exists in the
Philadelphia Museum, and another was sold to the editor as from the
Zambesi region. Its presence may be expected in Sonth Western
Africa, as Mr. Monteiro states that it is not uncommon in the thick
woods near Bembe in the interior of Angola.
Adult.—Entire head ashy-grey, becoming tinged with blue on the
nape ; back, from the nape to the rump, rich cobalt ; scapularies and
wing-coverts jet-black ; quills black, the inner web white at the base,
the basal half of the exterior web of the primaries, and nearly the
entire outer web of the secondaries, brilliant cobalt ; tail dark cobalt
above, black beneath; throat, and a narrow line over the eye, white;
space between the bill and the eye, feathers round the eye extending
backwards over the ear-coverts, deep black ; cheeks, ear-coverts, sides
of the neck and the breast, greenish cobalt ; abdomen and under
tail-coverts, white ; flanks grey, with obscure vermienlations ; upper
mandible vermilion, black at the base and towards the tip, lower
mandible jet black ; feet red. Total length, 10 inches ; of bül from
front, 2-3 ; from gape, 2-7 ; wing, 4‘6 ; tail, 3*2 ; tarsus, 0*5; middle
toe, 0-8 ; hj-rid toe, O'o5.
Fig. Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. pi. 72.