' * « s * • ^
LIST OF PLATES.
Plate 55. . . Syma torotoro Plate 88. . . Halcyon soi-dida
„ 56. . „ flavirostris „ 89. . 1, Forsteni «
57. ■ . Halcyon coromanda „ 90. . ,, vagnus
58. . ,, badia 91. . ,, soneta
„ 59. . ,, smyrnensis 11 92. . ,, funobris
„ 60. . gularis „ 98. . . Todirhamphus veneratus
II 61. . „ cyanoventris 1, 94. . 11 rocui'virosi
11 62. . ,, pileata 1, 95. . ,1 tutUB
„ ■ 63. . „ erythrogasti-a 96. . . Carcinoutes pulchellus
64. . ,, semiecorulea II 97. . ,, molanops
„ 65. . ,, albiventris 1, 98. . Moiiachalcyon monaebus
„ 66. . ,, orientalis „ 99. . . Caiidonax fiJgidus
II 67. . ,, cbelicutensis „ 100. . . Tanysiptera sylvia
,, 68. . senegaloides 10 1. . „ doris
„ 69. . cyanoleuca ,, 102. . 1, Emilias
70. . ,, senegalensis „ 103. . „ sabrina
„ 71. . dryas „ 104. . „ nj-mpha
1, 72. . „ malimbica ,, 105. . ,, EUioti
73. . ,, albicilla „ 106. . ,, hydi’ocbaris
II 74. . ,, leucopygia „ 107. . acis
„ 75. . „ nigrocyanea „ 108. . „ Margaretha)
,1 76. . ,, lazuli „ 109. . „ nais
77. . ,, diops „ 110 . . „ galatea
„ 78. . „ Macleayi 1, 1 1 1 . . ,, Eiedeli
79. . pyrrhopygia II 1 1 2 . . . Dacelo gigas
„ 80. . „ cinnamomina | „ 113. . ,, Leaciii
„ 81. . ausfci-alasire j II 114. . 1, corvina
„ 82. . ,, Lindsayi ,, 115. . ,, occidentalis
„ 83. . concreta „ 116. . ,, Gaudicliaudi
,1 84. . ,, Hombroni II 117. . ,, tyro
85. . „ sacra ' „ 118. . . Cittui'a sanghii'onsis
,, 86. . ,, Julim ’ 1 „ 119. . ,, cyanotis
87. . ,, chloris „ 120. . . Melidora macrorhina
I N T R O D U C T I O N .
I OWE th e suggestion o f the present Monograph to Mr. AV. J . AA^illiams, of th e Zoological
Society, who, in the year 1865, proposed th a t we should write together a synopsis of
th e known species o f Kingfishers. Owing, however, to increased calls upon his time,
Mr. Williams was forced to abandon the project, and th e work was dropped for some time.
In 1866 I again resumed the task by myself, and have since steadily persevered with the
work u n til I have been a t length enabled to bring i t to a satisfactory conclusion. I take
this opportunity o f returning my gi'ateful thanks for theii’ kindness to th e many friends
who have contributed to the success o f th e undertaking, and without whose assistance it
would have been impossible to finish the hook. In this country my thanks are due
especially to Lord AValden, Lord Lilford, Dr. P. L. Selater, Professor Kewton, and Messrs.
Jo h n Gould, Osbert Salvin, G. Dawson Rowley, H . E. Dresser, G. R. Gray, and especially
to Mr. A. R. AVallace, who placed a t my disposal his b e a u tifu l, collection o f Kingfishers.
In France, M. Ju les Verreaux has done a ll he could to assist me, and render my book as
perfect as possible. To Germany my thanks are due in the persons o f D r. Peters, o f Berlin,
who sent me over some rare specimens to figure, and o f D rs. Ha rtlau b and Finsch, o f Bremen,
who have always displayed th e greatest willingness to h elp me with all th e ir power. In
Italy , C ount Salvador!, o f T urin, has given me much valuable a id ; and I am indebted to him
for the loan o f several unique birds. Nor must I forget Count T u ra ti, o f Milan, who has
from time to time sent me from his magnificent collection specimens necessary for th e work.
In Vienna another kind friend, H e rr A. von Pelzeln, has len t me some rarities from the
Imperial Cabinet. Lastly, I have to record my obligations to Professor Schlegel, who not
only did his utmost to assist me during my visit to Leiden, b u t allowed me to bring to
England all th e specimens which I considered indispensable to th e satisfactory completion
o f my book. Neith er shall I foi-get th e kindness I received during th e same visit from his
compatriots. Dr. G. F. AA^esterman and Mr. Hegt, of Amsterdam, where th e Museum
contains a very good series of Kingfishers. -
J t would be invidious to say any th in g about th e way in which my artist, M r. Keulemans,
has performed the task allotted to him. The attention which h e has bestowed upon the
work merits my liighost ap p ro b atio n ; and I only reg ret th a t in some instances the effect of
his beautiful drawings has been marred by the incapacity o f th e colourists. T h e department
o f p rinting and colouring the plates has been in tru sted to Mr. P. AV. M. T r a p ; and