File:A monograph of the Alcedinidae (19212330243).jpg

species, there can be no doubt that the specimen described by Brisson really came from
that island.
The rarity of Corythornus vintsioides in collections, and our comparatively small know-
ledge of the ornithology of Madagascar, renders the account of its habitats very meagre, but
in the valuable work recently published by Messrs. Pollen and Van Dam we find the fol-
lowing interesting passage concerning it: —
" This bird is very common in Madagascar and Mayotte. It is always to be seen on
the borders of the rivers, brooks, lakes, cataracts, and in the forests of mangroves which extend
along the sea-coast. It feeds on little fishes and certain aquatic insects, on which it preci-
pitates itself with great rapidity. In other respects it lives in the same manner as our
common Kingfisher, and has a very similar cry. At Mayotte it is often seen perched on
the leaves of the sugar-cane, near the canals which traverse the fields, having its eyes
continuously fixed on the water, and awaiting, with patience, the moment when a little
fish or an insect presents itself underneath, to precipitate itself upon it swiftly by
plunging into the water. Having seized its prey, it returns to devour it, to the branch
that it has just quitted ; it may be seen lifting its crest, raising and lowering its head,
and remaining, often for an hour together, in an almost immovable position. This
species is by no means shy, and allows itself to be easily approached. It lives almost
always solitary, sometimes in pairs, and it is only on rare occasions that more than
three individuals are seen together. We have found this bird at Mayotte, Nossi-be, Nossi-
falie, Tani-kelv, Nossi-Bourrah and Madagascar. In this latter island it bears the name of
« Bintsi.'
Messrs. Koch and Newton state (I.e.) that in Madagascar this species was " tolerably
common along the coast, and observed up the country as far as Beforona," and the latter
gentleman observed (/.c.) it on his second visit to the island, to be as kt common as it was
last year."
The description, measurements, and plate are taken from a beautiful male bird in my