IS P ID IN A L EU CO G A S T R A ,
I S P IDINA LEUCOGASTRA.
(W H IT E -B R EA S T ED K IN G F ISH E R .)
Halcyon
Alcedo leucogaster,
Alcedo leucogastra,
Corytho-.
Fraser, P. Z. S. 1846, p. 4.
Kaup, l^erh. Nat. Ver. Darmst. 1848, p. 75.
Gray, Cat. Fiss. Brit. Mus. p. 64 (1848).
Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 10 (1854).
Reich. Handb. Alced. p. 6, t. cccscv, fig. 3056 (1851).
I. dorso lætè ultramarino : pileo nigro, ultramarino faseiato : abdomine albo.
Hah. in Africâ occidentali.
Head b lack, banded with u ltram a rm e ; back an d scapularies rich u ltramarme ; wing-
feathers blackish, th e inner web lig h t rufous from the base, th e ex te rio r web o f the
secundaries fain tly edged with u ltram a rin e ; ta il u ltramarme above, black b en e ath ; a
patch o f feathers in front o f th e eye e x ten d in g backwards over the eye, cheeks, ear-coverts
and sides o f the neck b rig h t rufous ; a patch o f feathers along the side o f th e neck., th ro a t
and middle o f th e body w h ite ; sides o f th e body and u nder wing-coverts b rig h t ru fo u s;
b ill sealing-wax r e d ; feet red. Total len g th 5 inches, o f b ill from front 1.4, from gape 1.7,
win g 2.4, tail 1.0, tarsu s 0.3, middle toe 0 .45, h in d toe 0.2.
Hah. Fern an d o Po (Fraser), Gaboon (D u Chaillu, Verreaux), Ashantee (mus. M. B.
Sharpe) Gold Coast (pius. Lugd.), Sierra Leone (mus. J . Gould).
This is th e larg e st o f th e Ispidina^, and from its more compressed b ill and piscivorous
habits, seems to approach the genus Alcedo. Mr. Louis F ra se r, whose name is well knovm
Additional references.—Halcyon leucogaster, Allen and Thomps. Exp. Nig. II, p. 503 (1848), Gray, Gen.
of Birds, I, p. 79 (c. 1844). Alcedo leucogaster, Kaup, Fam. Alced. p. 13 (1848), Fraser, Zool. Typ. pl. 32
(1849), Strickl. Contr. to Orn. 1851, p. 134, Jard. Mem. of Stricld. p. 331 (1858), Schl. Mus. Pays Bas, Alced. p.
15 (1863). Alcedo leucogastra, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. I, p. 159 (1850), Verr. Eev. Zool. 185l, p. 268, Hartl.
Joui-n. f. Om. 1854, p. 4, Mull. Journ. f. Om. 1855, p. 9, Hartl. Om. West Afr. p. 35 (1857), Cass. Proc. Philad.
Acad. 1857, p. 37, Du CliaiUu, Eq. Afr. p. 472 (1861). Ispidina leucogastra, Cass. Cat. Hale. Plul. Mus. p. 13 (1852).
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