_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ALCYONE PUSILLA.
Little Kingfisher.
_Ceyx pusilla_, Temm. Pl. Col., 595. fig. 3.
_Nu-reä-bin-mo_, Aborigines of the Cobourg Peninsula.
This lovely little Kingfisher is a native of the northern shores of
Australia; the specimens in my collection were all procured at Port
Essington where it is a rare bird; and from it always inhabiting the
densest mangroves, is not only seldom seen, but is extremely difficult
to procure; in general habits and manners it very much resembles the
_Alcyone azurea_, but its note is somewhat more shrill and piping, and
its flight more unsteady. Specimens of this species from New Guinea,
which I have had opportunities of examining in the noble collection at
Leyden, present no difference whatever from those found in Australia.
The food of the _Alcyone pusilla_ consists exclusively of fish, which
are taken precisely after the manner of the Common Kingfisher of our own
island.
The sexes are alike in size and colour.
Lores, a tuft behind the ear-coverts and under surface silky white;
forehead, sides of the neck, wing-coverts and the margins of the
secondaries green; primaries brownish black; all the upper surface and a
large patch on each side on the chest brilliant intense blue; tail dull
deep blue; irides dark blackish brown; bill black; legs and feet
greenish grey.
The figures are of the natural size.
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