George Ernest Shelley
Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 90
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872 edition. Excerpt: ...Black and White Kingfisher. Abundant throughout Egypt and Nubia. It may be daily seen, generally in pairs, perched upon the steep bank or the stranded roots of some tree that has been carried down by the river. At times, with beak directed downwards, it hovers over the water, into which it darts boldly after its finny prey; if unsuccessful, it will repeat the performance until it captures a fish, when it flies to the bank to enjoy the repast at its ease. Sometimes it flies slowly close over the surface of the water. It begins breeding about the end of March, when it drills deep holes in the steep river-banks to place its nest in. Head crested. The whole of the upper plumage, with the wiiigs and tad pure black and white, sharply defined; under surface of the body pure silvery white, with the following markings: --in the adult female, only one large black patch on each side of the upper part of the breast, which nearly meets in the centre, and a few black marks on the flanks; the male has in addition an entire narrow black collar across the chest; in not quite adult plumage some of the feathers on the neck and crop are narrowly edged with dull black. Beak and legs black, irides dark brown. Entire length 115 inches; culmen 23; wing, carpus to tip, 55; tarsus 05. Fig. Sharpe's Monogr. Alced. pi. 19. Fam. CORACIADJE. 146. Coracias Garrula, Linn. Roller. This is only a bird of passage in Egypt and Nubia, arriving on its way north about the end of April. I first met with it at Koos on the 26th of that month; and two days later I killed three out of a party of four that I saw near Dendera. In the spring of the year they are not rare in Egypt. They are rather shy; but, owing to a fancy they appear to have for certain clumps of trees, they may be..