File:A monograph of the Alcedinidae (19645442290).jpg

Young. Brown above, the brown markings on the head very indistinct ; back pale
cobalt ; collar round the neck indistinct, dull fulvous brown ; under-surface of the body
very deep reddish-brown, the abdomen coloured like the rest of the breast, the throat alone
being white ; the shafts of the feathers on the upper part of the breast narrow and indistinct;
bill dull red.
Hah. Cape Colony (Layard), Kaffraria (mus. Hein.) 1 Natal (Ayres), Transvaal Republic
(Ayres).
I cannot account with certainty for the differences of plumage exhibited by the present
bird, as I cannot obtain satisfactorily identified specimens. It appears to me, however,
that it is only the very old birds which obtain the black scapularies and the white belly.
The young bird is coloured exactly like that of the young H. orientalis, and agrees with the
figure of the young female in the plate of that species. More information on this point is
required, and I draw the attention of Mr. Layard to the question.
The Brown-hooded Kingfisher is confined to South Africa, extending along the eastern
coast as far as the River Limpopo. North of this point it seems to be replaced in Eastern
Africa by the allied species If. orientalis. I can find no specific difference in specimens from
various localities, and the variation in size appears from the following table of measure-
ments, to be very trifling: —
No.
Locality.
Authority.
Long tot.
Kostr.
Al.
1
South Africa.
mus. R. B. S.
9-0
1-6
4-2
2
i. .»
tt ti
9-0
175
4-2
3
.. tt
tt tt
9-5
1-75
4-2
4
tt tt
tt tt
9-5
1.75
4-2
5
ft it
tt tt
10-0
1-8
4-2
6
tt tt
tt tt
9-5
1-75
4-2
7
tt tt
tt f
8-5
1-85
4-2
8
Natal.
» »
9-0
1-85
4-2
It must be borne in mind that the length of the birds above-mentioned is given from a-
dried skin in each case, so that little attention can be paid to the differences noted in the
total length of the various specimens. The bill varies with age, so that, taking the absolute
uniformity of the wing as our best guide, we may safely conclude that there is no specific
difference to be found in specimens from different parts of South Africa. I am inclined to
think that the Natal bird may be found to be a trifle larger than that of the Cape, as spec. 8,
is a young bird and yet equals in size of bill spec. 7, which is the oldest bird in my
collection.
Mr. Layard (I.e.) tells us that the present species "extends from Kaffraria to Natal and
inland as far as Kuruman. Mr. Atmore assures me that it is plentiful at Swellendam, and
that when he is digging in his garden specimens may always be seen perched on the trees
near him, from which they dart down on the worms, slugs, &c, which he turns up with his
spade. — It is not found in the neighbourhood of Cape Town ; but I have received a pair
from a Mr. Dixon, said to have been killed on the eastern frontier."
Mr. Ayres has given us a very interesting note on its habits (I.e.).
"Male. Eye dark brown; bill crimson, black towards the tip; legs dark red. In its
crop beetles and grasshoppers. These birds frequent the bush, generally perching on sonic