Malachite kingfisher Malachite kingfisher The malachite kingfisher ("Corythornis cristatus") is a river kingfisher which is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. It is largely resident except for seasonal climate-related movements. The malachite kingfisher was described by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas in 1764 and given the binomial name "Alcedo cristata". The specific epithet "cristata" is from the Latin "cristatus" meaning "crested" or "plumed". The adjective "malachite" in the vernacular name normally refers to the dark green colour of the copper containing mineral. This kingfisher has blue upperparts but has black banding with pale blue or greenish-blue on its forehead.
Italian submarine Malachite both miss. "Malachite" was forced to dive and undergo lengthy depth charge attack. From 10 to 18 April 1941 she was posted northeast of the Gulf of Sollum. At 23:37 on April 14 "Malachite" sighted a large convoy but was prevented from attacking it due to preemptive action by the escorts. On May 20, 1941 "Malachite" together with numerous other submarines was deployed to an area between Crete, Alexandria and Sollum, to support the German invasion of Crete (Operation Merkur). "Malachite"'s area operation was south of the island of Gaidaro. On the night of June 19, 1941 while patrolling off