IS P ID IN A N A TA L EN SIS, ad.& juv.
I S P IDINA NATALEN S IS ,
( N A T A L K I N G F I S H E R . )
IK
I
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Ahedo natalensis,
Ispidina natalensis,
Ispidina nitida,
Alcedo nitida,
Corythornis nitida
Ahedo picturata
Alcedo nutans,
Alcedo picta,
Ispidina picta,
Eahyon cyanotis
Smith, S. Afr, Quart. Journ. No, Y., p. 14 (1831).
Sharpe, Ibis, 1869, pp. 281, 283.
Kaup, Fam. Alced. p. 13 (1848).
Gray, Cat. Fiss. Brit. Mus. p. 65 (1848).
Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 10 (1854).
Schl. Mus. Pays Bas, Alced. p. 16 (1863).
Bianc. Spec. Zool. Mosamb. fasc, XVIII, p. 320 {nec Vieill.).
Jard. Edinb. New Philos. Joum. n. s. I l l , p. 242 (nec Bodd.).
Gurney, Ibis, 1859, p. 246 (nec Kaup).
Layard, Birds of S. Afr. p. 64 (nec Swains.).
I. pileo nigro, ultramarino faseiato: abdomine aurantiaco: maculâ post-aurieulari lætè cyaneâ.
Hab. in Africâ eur-australi.
Crown o f th e head black, b a rred with rich ultramarme ; a line o f feathers extending
from th e base o f th e nostrils backwai’ds over the eye, cheeks, sides and back of the head
rich lilac rufous ; a patch o f feathers behind the eai’ rich ultramarine ; t\ùng-coverts black
washed -with ultramtu-me ; primaries brownish-black, th eir in n er webs h g h t rufous a t the
base ; upper surface o f th e tail rich ultramarme, u nder surface black ; th ro a t white ; rest
o f th e under-srndace of the body b rig h t orange-red ; biD rich coral-red ; feet red ; irides dark
broYYU. Total length 4 inches, of bSl from fro n t 0.9, from gape 1.1, wing 2.1, tail 0.9, tarsus
0.25, middle toe 0.4, hin d toe 0.2.
(Bianconi), Caffi-aria (mtw. Hab. Natal (Ayres), Lugd.) Zambesi River
(mus. R . B . Sharpe).
The chief cliai-acters which distinguish th e present species from lopidina picta of
Abyssinia .and Western Africa, are th e stouter beak, th e b rig h ter plumage, and especially,
th e b rig h t blue spot behind the ear, which forms a conspicuous and characteristic feature.
As pointed o u t by me in my recent paper in the “ Ibis,” Kaup’s Ispidina nitida is the
y oung bii-d, of which th e h in d er figure in the accompanying plate, taken from Kaup's type
Additional references.—Ahedo natalensis, Layard, Birds of S. Afr. p. 66 (ex Smith). Ahedo nitida. Gray,
Gen. of Birds, App. p. 5 (1848); Hartl. Journ. f. Om. 1854, p. 4, Miill. Joum. f. Orn 1855, p. 9, Hartl. Orn.
■Westafr. p. 36 (1857). Ispidina nitida, Reicb. Handb. Alced. p. 6 (1851). Alcedo picta, Hartl. and Finscb, Orn.
Ostafr. p . 171 (nec Bodd.).