L I T E R A T U E E ,
I HAVE been induced to go rath er fully into the subject o f the works examined in
connexion with the present Monograph, u nder th e impression th a t a literary history of
the Alcedinidoe will be o f use to the future student o f th e family. I have had th e advantage
o f the Zoological Society’s Library at my command ; and I cannot sufficiently express
my g ratitu d e for th e facilities afforded me by Dr. Selater and the CouncU for pursuing
my studies while in th eir service. In order to render th e treatm ent o f th e subject more
plain, I have adopted the method o f the characterization o f ornithological detail perfected
by my friends Professor Newton and Dr. Ha rtlau b in th e ir Zoological Records.
Liniîæus, C. Systema Naturæ, tom. i. 8vo, 1766, p. 178.
The genus Alcedo is described. The following species are included
1. Alcedo cristata ; 2. A . inda ; 3. A . ispida ; 4. A . erifhaea ; 5. A . madagascariensis ; 6.
A . superciliosa ; 7. A . alcyon ; S. A . to rgm ta ; 9. A . capensis ; 19. A . senegalensis ; 11. A.
smyrnensis; 12. A . rudis; 13. A . dea; 14. A .p a ra d isea ; 15. A galiula.
Of these, A. erithaca and A . dea (ex Briss. and Seba) are not determinable, while A .
paradisea and A . galiu la are n o t Kingfishers, b u t Jacamars (Galtulidoe). All the others
are recognizable a t th e present day.
VosMAEE, A. Beschryviag van twee zeer ffaaie, Kortstaartige Oost-Indische Ys-Vogelties
4to, 1768.
A p late o f these two Kingfishers is given, showing them to be Ceyx tridactyla (Pall.)
and Ceyx rufidorsa, Strickl.
P allas, P. S. Spicilegia Zoologica, Fasc. 6, 4to, 1769.
Alcedo tridactyla is a new species.
Alcedo maxima is a new species from the Cape o f Good Plope.
L atham, Dr. J . General Synopsis o f B irds, vol. ii. 4to, 1772, p. 607.
T he au th o r enumerates the following species, to which, however, he does n o t apply
Latin appellations. Those in italics not determinable :—
1. Great Brown Kingfisher (ex Sonn.). 2. Cape Kingfisher (A. capensis, L inn.). 3. Great
African Kingfisher (A. maxima, Pall.), cum var. A (ex Buff. PL Enl. G79==Cenfie maxi)na
(Pall.)). 4. Black and ^ \h i te Kingfisher (yi. HicZzs, L.). Egyptian Kingfisher (ex Hasselq.
It. p. 245). 6. Mew Guinea Kingfisher (ex Sonn. Voy. p. 171, t. 107).
7. Smyrna Kingfisher (A. smyrnensis, L.), cum var. A, Great Gambia Kingfisher. Latham
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