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MAP oF tHE FAMILY

A iy G 38 DION 10D Ae

MOMOT ID &

A MONOGRAPH

THE ALCKEDINIDA: FAMILY OF KINGFISHERS.

R. B. SHARPE, F.LS., éc,,

LIBRARIAN TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, MEMBER OF THE GERMAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ SOCIETY, &e., &e.

Perque dies placidos hiberno tempore septem

Incubat aleyone pendentibus zequore nidis. Ovid, Met. xi. 745.

OI nnenenewnm

Rondon:

wearer sneED BY THE AUTHOR.

1868—71.

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LONDON: © so aby sf os nt PRINTED BY J. W. ELLIOT, 8, WHITE HART peewee CATHERINE » vp, Ws ny sr am

Prk VISCOUNT WALDEN,

PRESIDENT,

AND

THE NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN

COMPOSING

Re eau N Cl L

OF

THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, THIS WORK,

IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT AND KIND ASSISTANCE, IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,

BY THEIR OBEDIENT SERVANT,

THE AUTHOR.

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, ‘ ; ; y om + f a fy b ie , ; | 1? La , ‘ ay 7 > é f

TrTLE-PAGE. DEDICATION.

List oF CoNTENTS. List oF PLATES. Introduction. Classification.

Geographical Distribution.

Concluding Remarks. Literature. Alcedo ispida », bengalensis » grandis », moluccensis », asiatica », quadribrachys » semitorquata

» euryzona », beryllina

Corythornis vintsioides ..

_ cristata

H ceeruleocephala

Aleyone azurea », pulchra diemensis Lessoni affinis pusilla » eyanopectus Ceryle guttata lugubris rudis maxima », Sharpii », torquata

GO ND ew? Ss.

SUPP P PPP PPP PP

55. Olfe

Ceryle stellata

aleyon amazonia Cabanisi americana inda superciliosa

Pelargopsis melanorhyncha

Ceyx

” amauroptera < leucocephala +9 Gouldi

af Fraseri

s gurial

os malaccensis Bs burmanica floresiana .. philippinensis solitaria

melanura tridactyla

rufidorsa

Sharpei

Dillwynni

eajeli

Wallacei

lepida

uropygialis

Ceycopsis fallax

Ispidina madagascariensis

leucogastra picta natalensis ruficeps Lecontei

i.

Syma torotoro aan e000

”

flavirostris

Halcyon coromanda

badia

smyrnensis

gularis

cyanoventris ....

pileata slevere S000 erythrogastra

semiceerulea

albiventris

orientalis Srrot vines chelicutensis

senegaloides

cyanoleuca

senegalensis ....

dryas

malimbica

albicilla

leucopygia

nigrocyanea .... racuchc lazuli

diops

Macleayi

pyrrhopygia

cinnamomina

australasize

Lindsayi

concreta

Hombroni

sacra

Julize

chloris

p-

SUPP PI See epee

CONTENTS.

Halcyon sordida 3 Forsteni

» vVagans As sancta 5 funebris Todirhamphus veneratus 5 recurvirostris se tutus Carcineutes pulchellus....

5 melanops . Monachaleyon monachus Caridonax fulgidus Tanysiptera sylvia

5 doris

5 Emilize

+ sabrina

95 nympha

a Ellioti .5

5 hydrocharis

5 acis

> Margarethze i nais galatea a: Riedeli Dacelo gigas », Leachi » cervina », occidentalis 5, Gaudichaudi yt LYE Cittura sanghirensis » cyanotis Melidora macrorhina

SUPPU ODP PP PP POPP PPP PP

moby OR Pe ES.

peed a Alcedo ispida Plate 28... . Ceryle superciliosa », bengalensis Peay ee Pelargopsis melanorhyncha »» grandis SeisO.k Je 4 es amauroptera », moluccensis a tal. a leucocephala » —asiatica MEREOR , Gouldi », quadribrachys La » Fraseri » semitorquata Sot ee : " gurial » euryzona nee Eta 4 burmanica » _ beryllina B17 COO:. Sy. : a5 floresiana Corythornis vintsioides User 8 yo ee Rel ABE oy . 4, solitaria Gi I ome! ee ; », melanura See ereton ReaD. : ,», tridactyla 2 ic een 1 ie : », rufidorsa . { ¥ pica wh ae : », Sharpei pusilla Pore: nee : », Dillwynni »_ eyanopectus ek aac : i cajeli Ceryle guttata a : », Wallacei aes aye: 3 3 », lepida >. anaceime 5 i Ps ‘ 5, uropygialis a Sharpii ee eer Ceycopsis fallax » torquata sy a0. Ispidina madagascariensis » _ alcyon Oe e : », leucogastra ,» amazonia se Me 2 - ‘ picta », Cabanisi speeee ‘ ,, natalensis americana ss) Ocee bln ; » Yuficeps

» inda rc) Mee ,, Lecontei

ii.

Plate ©

Syma torotoro Plate “88. ,, flavirostris 88s Halcyon coromanda 3 "90. » badia » “me = smyrnensis se ee » gularis Tae 2 cyanoventris 551 eae ‘4 pileata a Paes x erythrogastra sx OG: - semiczerulea 4 OE us albiventris » 798. 5 orientalis ee: chelicutensis 35, 200: “ senegaloides sy OR. cyanoleuca sh) ek - senegalensis 5, 103. 2 dryas =. M04 “s malimbica 7 Sz a albicilla > 106. “ leucopygia 55 pel OF - nigrocyanea 59 LOS » lazuli , 109. ~ diops 35 LEE Macleayi serrate Hf pyrrhopygia ae! er ~ cinnamomina ieee Las ~ australasice | mee WE 2 3 Lindsayi sy, Wk Lies . concreta ya DG? re Hombroni Se ia LA “5 sacra = “118. » Julie . ne oe - chloris = 120.

LIST OF PLATES.

Halcyon sordida “ Forsteni 5» vVagans + sancta on funebris Todirhamphus veneratus ” recurvirostris + tutus Carcineutes pulchellus = melanops Monachaleyon monachus Caridonax fulgidus

Tanysiptera sylvia

sf doris

RS Emilie

es sabrina

= nympha

= Ellioti

Pr) hydrocharis

¥s acis

” Margarethze

- nais

2 galatea

£ Riedeli Dacelo gigas

»» Leachi

»» cervina », occidentalis ;; Gaudichaudi » tyro Cittura sanghirensis »» ¢yanotis Melidora macrorhina

GND BOR Geb ON.

I owe the suggestion of the present Monograph to Mr. W. J. Williams, of the Zoological Society, who, in the year 1865, proposed that we should write together a synopsis of the known species of Kingfishers. Owing, however, to increased calls upon his time, Mr. Williams was forced to abandon the project, and the work was dropped for some time. In 1866 I again resumed the task by myself, and have since steadily persevered with the work until I have been at length enabled to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion. I take this opportunity of returning my grateful thanks for their kindness to the many friends who have contributed to the success of the undertaking, and without whose assistance it would have been impossible to finish the book. In this country my thanks are due especially to Lord Walden, Lord Lilford, Dr. P. L. Sclater, Professor Newton, and Messrs. John Gould, Osbert Salvin, G. Dawson Rowley, H. E. Dresser, G. R. Gray, and especially to Mr. A. R. Wallace, who placed at my disposal his beautiful collection of Kingfishers. In France, M. Jules Verreaux has done all he could to assist me, and render my book as perfect as possible. ‘To Germany my thanks are due in the persons of Dr. Peters, of Berlin, who sent me over some rare specimens to figure, and of Drs. Hartlaub and Finsch, of Bremen, who have always displayed the greatest willingness to help me with all their power. In Italy, Count Salvadori, of Turin, has given me much valuable aid; and I am indebted to him for the loan of several unique birds. Nor must I forget Count Turati, of Milan, who has from time to time sent me from his magnificent collection specimens necessary for the work. In Vienna another kind friend, Herr A. von Pelzeln, has lent me some rarities from the Imperial Cabinet. Lastly, I have to record my obligations to Professor Schlegel, who not only did his utmost to assist me during my visit to Leiden, but allowed me to bring to England all the specimens which I considered indispensable to the satisfactory completion of my book. Neither shall I forget the kindness I received during the same visit from his compatriots, Dr. G. F. Westerman and Mr. Hegt, of Amsterdam, where the Museum contains a very good series of Kingfishers.

It would be invidious to say any thing about the way in which my artist, Mr. Keulemans, has performed the task allotted to him. ‘The attention which he has bestowed upon the work merits my highest approbation; and I only regret that in some instances the effect of his beautiful drawings has been marred by the incapacity of the colourists. The depart- ment of printing and colouring the plates has been intrusted to Mr. P. W. M. Trap; and

a

a

il INTRODUCTION.

though on the whole well executed, I am sorry that I cannot give unqualified praise in some instances.

Lastly, I have to return my heartfelt thanks to those subscribers who have favoured me with their patronage. Without their assistance it would have been impossible to finish the book successfully; and the encouragement accorded by so many kind friends has cheered me on through all the difficulties of the task, which have been far greater than I ever anticipated. I have no right to endeavour to disarm criticism, after having under- taken the production of so ambitious a work; but I do hope that the errors of the present monograph, which, of course, is not by any means perfect, may be viewed with a lenient eye; for it must be remembered that an author who commences so large an undertaking at the age of seventeen, and who as he pens these last words has not attained to the age of twenty- three, cannot have lived long enough to have digested all the mass of literature which would bear upon the subject, and is therefore entitled to some slight consideration. But I believe that the facts stated in this book may be depended upon; for in every instance where an assertion has appeared doubtful I have been careful not to state it, leaving it to future investigation to prove or disprove the correctness of the original statement. Finally, a short ‘“* History of the Work ” may be of use to students who desire to know the date of publication of any of the species.

Dates of Publication.

Parr L., July 1st, 1868, contained figures and descriptions of Caridonaa fulgidus, Carci- neutes pulchellus, Halcyon pileata, H. dryas, Ceyx cajeli, C. wallacti, Ceryle alcyon, C. superciliosa.

Parr II., October Ist, 1868, contained figures and descriptions of Cittura sanghirensis, C. cyanotis, Ceyx lepida, C. solitaria, C. tridactyla (Vosm.), C. melanura, Carcineutes melanops, Ceryle cabanisi.

After this part was published it was discovered that C. tridactyla (Vosm.) was not the true C. tridactyla (Pallas); and the name was corrected in the succeeding Part.

Parr IIL, January Ist, 1869, contained figures and descriptions of Dacelo gaudichaudi and D. tyro, Tanysiptera nympha, Halcyon badia, Syma torotoro and 8. flavirostris, Ceya tridactyla and C. philippinensis.

The species figured, as above mentioned, in Part III. as C. tridactyla not being the true CU. tridactyla, but C. rufidorsa, letterpress to accompany the Plate is now given, and with the last Part a slip of paper is published to paste over the name of C. tridactyla published in Part I11.; and then all will be correct.

Parr IV., April 1st, 1869, contained figures and descriptions of Melidora macrorhina, Halcyon senegaloides, Ispidina madagascariensis, I. leucogastra, I. picta, Ceyx uropygialis, Alcyone cyanopectus, Ceryle inda.

Parr V., July 1st, 1869, contained figures and descriptions of Ceryle amazonia, Alcedo beryllina, A. semitorquata, Corythornis vintsioides, Ceycopsis fallax, Ispidina ruficeps, Haleyon orientalis, H. cyanoleuca.

Parr VI1., October 6th, 1869, contained descriptions of the following :—Ceryle guttata,

CLASSIFICATION. ill

C. lugubris, C. maxima, C. sharpei, Alcyone pusilla, Corythornis cristata, C. ceruleocephala, Ispidina natalensis, Tanysiptera sylvia. Plates were given of all, except C. lugubris, of which a figure was not deemed necessary.

Part VII., January Ist, 1870, contained descriptions and figures of Ceryle torquata, Alcedo grandis, Alcyone pulchra, Halcyon cyanoventris, H. albiventris, H. senegalensis, H. malimbica, Dacelo leachi.

Part VIII., April 1st, 1870, contained figures and descriptions of Pelargopsis amauroptera, P. leucocephala, P. gouldi, P. burmanica, P. floresiana, Ceyx sharpii, Dacelo cervina, D. occidentalis.

Part IX., July Ist, 1870, contained figures and descriptions of Pelargopsis melanorhyncha, Alcedo euryzona, A. bengalensis, H. coromanda, H. gularis, H. erythrogaster, H. lazuli, Tanysiptera hydrocharis.

Parts X. & XI., October Ist, 1870, contained figures and descriptions of Alcedo moluc- censis, A. asiatica, Alcyone azurea, Ceryle americana, Ceyx dillwynni, Halcyon smyrnensis, H. diops, H. macleayi, H. nigro-cyanea, H. concreta, H. pyrrhopygia, H. sordida, H. cinna- momina, Monachaleyon monachus, Tanysiptera margarethe, Dacelo gigas.

Part XII., November Ist, 1870, contained descriptions of Alcyone diemensis, Ceryle stel- lata, Pelargopsis gurial, Halcyon semicerulea, H. chloris, H. sancta, H. forsteni, Todirhamphus recurvirostris, Tanysiptera doris, T. acis. Of all of these, figures were given, except of Alcyone diemensis and Ceryle stellata.

Part XIII., December Ist, 1870, contained descriptions and figures of Alcedo ispida, A. quadribrachys, Halcyon chelicutensis, H. australasiw, H. funebris, H. sacra, Todirhamphus veneratus, T'. tutus.

Parts XIV. & XV., January Ist, 1871. These parts contain eke of Ceryle rudis, Alcyone affinis, A. lessoni, Pelargopsis fraseri, P. malaccensis, Ispidina lecontei, Halcyon lindsayi, H. hombroni, H. albicilla, H. vagans, H. julie, H. leucopygia, Tanysiptera nais, T. galatea, T. sabine, T. emilie, T. ellioti, T. riedeli, all of which are figured except Pelarg- opsis malaccensis. ‘This concluding number also contains the chapter on Anatomy, Intro- duction, Titlepage, &c.

CLASSIFICATION.

The Kingfishers form a very natural family of the great Picarian order, and are alike remarkable for their brilliant coloration and for the variety of curious and aberrant forms which are included among their number. The general characteristics of the family cannot, I think, be better stated than in the words of Mr. A. R. Wallace, who, in his admirable essay on ‘‘a Natural Arrangement of Birds” (Ann. Nat. Hist. 1856, vol. xviii. p. 193), thus speaks of the Fissirostres, to which artificial group the Kingfishers belong :—

*““The external characters which distinguish these birds are, very short and weak legs, long, or at all events powerful wings, and a wide gape. ‘Their characteristic habit is to sit

a2

iv CLASSIFICATION.

motionless watching for their prey, to dart after it and seize it on the wing and to return to their original position to swallow it. The groups which possess these peculiarities in the greatest perfection are the Trogons and the Kingfishers.” To this excellent definition I may add that the Alcedinide nest in holes and lay white eggs. It is, however, to be re- marked that, in accordance with a modification of the habits of the various genera, a corre- sponding modification has taken place in the mode of nidification, the piscivorous section of the family nesting for the most part in holes in the banks of streams, while the insectivorous section of the family generally nest in the holes of trees, not necessarily in the vicinity of water. My friend M. Jules Verreaux, who has had in Africa opportunities of observing the breeding-habits of the Wood Kingfishers (Halcyon, Ispidina, &c.), tells me that these birds nest in holes already formed in the trees, or in rotten wood. Sometimes they enlarge the hole and eject the débris; this, however, is often left to form a platform for the eggs. They do not, as a rule, lay as many eggs as the true Kingfishers, two or three being the average number.

I propose to divide the family Alcedinide into two subfamilies, which present recognizable structural peculiarities. Naturally they might be divided into three, viz. :—

1. Alcedinine (sc. Piscivores)—being those Kingfishers which feed principally on fish, and | seldom or never touch insects &c.

2. Halcyonine (sc. Omnivores)—being those Kingfishers whose food is of a mixed cha- racter, and which, subsisting partly on fish, also devour great quantities of insect food, beside Crustacea, Lizards, &c. The Halcyons, which are the most typical representatives of this subfamily, are most plentiful in the A‘thiopian region, and M. Jules Verreaux again favours me with a note concerning their habits as observed by him in Africa :—

“Wood Kingfishers (//alcyones) generally feed on insects in mimosa trees and dry forests ; but when the supply is scanty, they turn their attention to lizards. Should this food also fail, they will frequent the water and fish like a true Alcedo. Sometimes they will hover, as if to inspect the water beneath them, remaining in the air for some time, but not so long as a true Kingfisher, and then, returning to their perch, they will sit for hours scarcely moving, till a passing fish is secured by an active plunge. A curious fact also is, that when they are in the bush there are generally seven or eight in close proximity, but when they go to the water they keep separate, each by itself. These Kingfishers, when they frequent the water or the sea-shore, eat crustacea or small shell-fish, which they hold between their feet, and breaking the shell by repeated blows of their bill, throw the latter away and devour the animal.”

3. Dacelonine (sc. Reptilivores)—being those Kingfishers whose food consists for the most part of Reptiles, Crustacea, &c., and which seldom or never touch fish.

I find, however, that though the natural relation of these three subfamilies to one another is tolerably well defined, yet tangible characters for the separation of the two latter are wanting; and from the nature of the principles which I have always endeavoured to set before me (namely, of only recognizing structural and definable characters) I am compelled ' to merge these two subfamilies into one, for which I prefer to retain the name Dacelonine.

CLASSIFICATION. v

Nor will this arrangement be found unsatisfactory, as the links of the two subfamilies (Monachaleyon and Tanysiptera) are so closely allied that the chain of connexion seems almost unbroken.

‘I have taken the genus Alcedo as my starting-point, as it is the most usually accepted type of the family; and thence I have traced the progression of the genera towards Melidora, which I consider to be the extreme development of Reptilivorous Kingfisher. That the natural sequence in the evolution of the genera has been from Melidora to Alcedo I endea- vour to show in a subsequent page.

The family Alcedinide may be divided into two subfamilies, as follows :— a. Rostro compresso, culmine distincté carinato . . . ~ « -«.. Ll. Alcedinine.

6. Rostro plus minusve depresso ; culmine levi, sone a suleato. . 2. Dacelonine.

These two subfamilies appear to contain 125 species, belonging to 19 genera, as follows, namely :—

ieee ot Sy Al Ye Gt genera’ > 2 |.) 41 species. Ie ot Ea ote er te oe Ow Udi genera 5°. «=. «8A species.

I have been unable to distinguish several species, all of which are enumerated in my notices of the different works in the chapter on “ Literature.”

Subfamily I. ALcEeDININz.

Conspectus generum Alcedininarum. a. Cauda breviore quam rostro, vel huic zequante. a’. Digitis quatuor. a', Caput cristatum, plumis pilei antici ad occiput haud extendentibus 1. Alcedo.

b". Caput cristatum, plumis pilei antici post occiput extendentibus. . 2. Corythornis. Te Sh 63) sae ean A ee Re coe lee ete, =. 8, Aleyone. 6. Cauda rostrum multo superante. Bemeouyde versus basil With 9. Le ee wt ee «4 Coryle. i Gonyde acuté, valde compressA . . . «. . « . « «. « » « « 5. Pelargopsis.

A reference to the plate of generic characters is sufficient to show the difference in the shape of the crest in Alcedo and Corythornis (Plate I. figs. 1 & 2), the form of the crest- feather in the latter genus being elongated and broadened out towards the apex. Again, although Alcedo and Alcyone, in the form of bill and wing, are almost identical, yet the absence of a toe in the latter genus, in addition to the generally uniform nature of the upper plumage, presents, in my opinion, sufficient ground for generic separation (figs. la & 3). On the other hand, however, Ceryle and Pelargopsis are exceedingly difficult to separate; but a character can be found in the skulls, where it will be seen that that of Ceryle (fig. 11) has the lachrymal bones as in true Alcedo, whereas Pelargopsis has these bones developed into a backward process (fig. 12). There is also a difference in the acute- ness of the ridge of the gonys, which is the character adduced in my diagnostic table.

vi CLASSIFICATION.

Genus 1. ALCEDO.

Alcedo, Linn. Syst; Nat. i, p. 178 (1766). . . eee A. td Clavis specierum. a. Torque pectorali nullo. a'. Abdomine rufo vel intensé castaneo. a'. Tectricibus alarum conspicué cyaneo apicatis. a'', Regione paroticé rufa. a!" Major, viridi-cyanea: rostrobrevi. . . . . . . . I. ispida. b'". Minor, leté cyanea: rostrolongo. . . . . . . . 2. bengalensis. b', Regione paroticé nigré cyaneo notata. c', Major, viridis: scapularibus viridibus. . . . . . . 8. grandis. d'". Minor, leté cyanea: scapularibus cyaneis . . . . . 4. moluccensis. b". Tectricibus alarum cyaneo vix apicatis. c'". Major: sexibus similibus: supra saturaté ultramarina . . 5. guadribrachys. d". Minor: sexibus differentibus: supra laté ultramarma . . 6. asiatica. b!. Abdomine pallidé aurantiaco. . . .. =.=... =. . - . @. semitorquata. b. Torque pectorali cyaneo. a’. Major: scapularibus nigris saturaté beryllino lavatis. . . .. . 8. euryzona. b'. Minor: scapularibus beryllinis . . . . «. .. 2 . 5 2 2 O.beryliina:

The full synonymy of the different species is given in the work; but I shall take the opportunity here afforded me of adding notes or correcting mistakes; so that this Introduc- tion ought to be carefully collated with the accounts given in the body of the ‘ Monograph.’

Genus 2. CoRYTHORNIS.

Type. Corythornis, Kaup, Fam. Eisy. p. 10 (1848) . . . . . . . . . GC. ceruleocephala. Clavis specierum. a. Rostronigro . . 1 6 «6 6, ee (eS Se 5. Rostro corallino. a’, Cristé longi malachitacei . . . . ~ 4. 2). 6 6 ey ge ee ene nGnn RONEN é'. Cristé brevi, ultramarinfB . ws) SP

1. CoRYTHORNIS CRISTATA.

This Madagascar bird is certainly the true Alcedo cristata of Linnzus (ex Briss.) ; and I therefore regret that this was not before fully recognized by me. ‘The species in the present work has been called C. vintsioides.

2. CORYTHORNIS CYANOSTIGMA.

The true A. cristata of Linneus being now proved to be the Madagascar bird, the con- tinental species must bear the name cyanostigma, which is to be regretted, as the appellation is applicable to the young bird only.

CLASSIFICATION. vil

3. CoRYTHORNIS GALERITA.

I am glad to see that Dr. von Heuglin agrees with me as to the improbability of this species being found in N.-E. Africa. The name of C. cwruleocephala (Gm.) sinks into a synonym in favour of the older name proposed by Miiller (Syst. Nat. Suppl. p. 94).

Genus 3. ALCYONE.

Type. cman, swains, (lassit, of B, ii, p. 386 (1837) 2 = we oe pis ew OA Gen Clavis specierum. a. Torque pectorali nullo. a'. Abdomine rufo. a". Rostro robustiore. a. Supra saturaté ultramarina . 1. lessoni. bd". Supra letissimé ultramarina 2. affinis. b". Rostro tenuiore. a. Rostro breviore: pileo nigro distincté fasciato . . . . . . 3. diemenensis. 6'". Rostro longiore, pileo haud fasciato. a iyponehouarinrUlitgN tn.) owed. «8 we A zUren. 6", Hypochondriis pulcherrimé ultramarinis . . . . . . . 5. pulchra. ee A er a ee ce ke fk «6G. pesilla. Beoname Vectors IAZUIMO VFe aus i 6) 6 hss kk lk eA. CYnOpectus.

Of the species above enumerated, Alcyone diemenensis is the only one which may be con- sidered to hold subspecific rank; for I do not think its specific characters are of much importance. As regards Alcyone pusilla, this species may be considered one of the links between the genera Alcyone and Ceyx, while another link is to be found in Alcyone cyanopectus, which is certainly very close to Ceyx philippinensis. Indeed it will require the researches of some able naturalist, like Mr. Wallace, in the Philippines, clearly to show us what are the differences between the two species. My friend Count Salvadori, who has paid much attention to these birds, stipulates for their both being placed in the genus dlcyone; but I would rather keep them in the genus Ceyx, because we should then have plumage as an additional generic character, and this is by no means an unimportant matter in the classification of Kingfishers. All the species of Alcyone, distinguished by their uniform backs, would be in one genus, while all the species of Ceya, with their brilliant lilac or cobalt backs, would be in another genus, and the most aberrant forms would be found in Ceyx philippinensis and Ceyx cyanopectus. If researches in the Philippine Islands show (what I believe to be more than likely) that the two last-named birds are merely sexes or different stages of one and the same species, it will naturally be wondered that I could put them into different genera. It will then be necessary to examine the types of my descriptions; and it will be found that, according to the only outward character to be discovered, the two species have been rightly placed. Externally the differences between Ceyx and Alcyone are very slight; both are three-toed genera; and

viil CLASSIFICATION.

the great difference is to be found in their habits; for Aleyone is a fish-eater and partakes of the characteristics of true Al/cedo—that is to say, has a long, thin, pointed bill, much compressed, and strongly carinated: Ceyx, on the other hand, is a forest-loving genus, living away from the water, feeding on insects, and bearing affinity towards Halcyon; the bill is inclined to be depressed, has no strongly marked keel; and the genus could not be compared with Alcyone, were it not for the intermediate links to be found in the Philippine species above mentioned. A full knowledge of the habits and, still more, of the osteology of these two species is to be desired; for it is possible that, as in the case of Ceryle and Pelargopsis, where a difficulty is met with in finding a tangible and definable character for distinction, a good osteological character can be adduced for generic separation.

We have now to consider the long-tailed section of the subfamily Alcedinine, in which only two genera, Ceryle and Pelargopsis, are included. In the former of these two genera a dacelonine peculiarity is first observed in the difference of the sexes, but not, as in most of the genera, in a perfect dissimilarity, or a difference in colour of the tail, but by the presence or absence of a pectoral band. This subject can be better discussed after the sections of the genus have been pointed out.

Genus 4, CERYLE.

Type. Ceryle, Boie, Isis, 1828, p. 316... . . Eee er Ispida, Swains. Classif. of B. ii. p. 326 as37) g0¥) Ay ae OS eee ge Megaceryle, Kaup, Fam. Eisv. p. 8 (1848). . . . . . . . . . . C. gutiata. Chloroceryle, Kaup, Fam. Eisv. p. 8 (1848) . . . . . . . . . . GC. superciliosa. Amazonis, Reich. Handb. Alced. p. 28 (1851). . . . . . . . . . GC. superciliosa. Streptoceryle, Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 10 (1854) . . . . . . . GC. torquata. Ichthynomus, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. ii. p. 150 (1860). . . . C. maxima.

That most of the above genera are founded upon differences of plumage rather than upon structural peculiarities, will be shown by the following :—

Clavis specierum. a. Sexibus similibus. a'. Dorso fusco, nigro et albo conspicué transfasciato.

a, Major: rostro magis compressO 5. 9s wjis s+ + » © lnUgeeoran b". Minor: rostro ad basin paullo dilatato . . . . . =. =. =. . 2. guttata. . Sexibus dissimilibus. a'. Dorso albo, nigro maculato. . . . : . 2 8. aalis: Oe schistaceo-nigro : mas torque pened fifo disliiishinnalnig . Abdomine medio albo.... «).., . 7% OF Gye & Ns eS eee . Abdomine nigro, albo transfasciato . . . . . =. =. - . . &5. shurpit.

c'!. Dorso claré schistaceo. a', Abdomine rufo, torque pectorali maris absente. a", Major: dorsoimmaculato . . . 9s 3 5 « + « «© «© ss) OVWOnMMaeE b"", Minor: dorso‘albo stellato © sys 5°27. 4.) 5 Seen eee 6", Abdomine'albo . . 0.0 05. Pe pee

7 ‘oa

CLASSIFICATION. ix

d'. Dorso zneo-viridi. a'. Gula alba.

a, Major: alis extusimmaculatis. . . . . 9. amazonia. 6". Media: rostro robustiore: maculis seat ae uecicrhin . 10. cabanisi. ce’. Minor: rostro tenuiore: maculis alaribus minus distinctis. . 11. americana.

6". Gula rufescente. d". Major: abdomine toto Beer intensé castaneis, pectore concolori . . . oe . 12. inda. e”. Minor: abdomine igeatic crissoque purée 3 albis*: and castaneo 13. superciliosa.

The genus Ceryle, in general appearance and shape of bill, would be more truly an Alcedi- nine form than its near ally Pelargopsis, but for the curious difference in sex already noticed. Although a casual observer would fail to perceive the reason why the Pied Kingfishers should be placed in separate sections, the habits of the two kinds are different, in the first place ; but, most of all, the ground-colour of the plumage is quite different, the pied appearance being produced by an opposite combination of colours in each case. Then, again, in the first section of the genus the sexes do not differ; and here must be the connecting link with Pelargopsis. I think that I did wrong in separating in the ‘ Monograph’ the Japanese form of Ceryle guttata as a distinct species under Temminck’s name C. lugudris; it is nothing more than a slightly larger race. All the other species of the genus Ceryle have the sexes different, the distinction being always exhibited in the form of a band. Thus in the Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) the male is characterized by a double band across the breast. The next section of the genus has the male distinguished by a beautiful rufous band across the chest, the belly being white, while in the female it is rufous. The third division consists of those species with slaty-blue backs, of which there are three. In the large species where

- the belly is red, the female takes the band across the chest, this character being absent in

the male; whereas in the small species (C. alcyon), which has the belly white, the male is distinguished by a broad pectoral band, while the female has two, the lower one being very narrow. All the other species of Ceryle have bronzy-green backs; and in the first sub- division, which contains three species, the belly is white, and the male is characterized by a bright rufous pectoral band, this being replaced in the female by green and white feathers ; while in the last subdivision, which contains only two species, with rufous bellies, the male is rufous underneath, while the female has a green pectoral band.

The last genus of the subfamily Alcedininw is Pelargopsis, which has generally been included in Halcyon, but which from its habits is closely allied to Ceryle, to which genus in form it also closely assimilates.

Genus 5. PELARGOPSIS.

Type. Pelargopsis, Gloger, Handb. d. Naturg. p. 338 (1842) . aro ? Rhamphalcyon, Reich. Handb. Alced. p.16 (1851) . . . . . . . « P. gurial. Hylcaon, Reich. Handb. Alced. p.18 (1851) . . . . . . . « « « BP. melanorhyncha.

* Owing to a stain on the plumage of the specimen figured, the belly has in some of the plates of C. supereiliosa been represented as yellowish. b

x CLASSIFICATION.

Clavis specierum.

a. Rostro nigro 4. Rostro rubro. a’. Scapularibus brunneis eee 2'. Scapularibus cyaneis vel viridi-cyaneis. a'. Capite haud pileato, collo postico concolori. a’, Major: supra viridi-cyanea . b". Minor: supra letissimé cyanea . b". Capite indistincté pileato, ochrascenti-cinereo . c". Capite distincté pileato. ce", Pileo haud eyaneo lavato.

a", Pileo albescenti-cinereo

b'"". Pileo brunneo. .

aa. Major: viridis

bb. Minor: cyaneo-viridis aces : d". Pileo pallidé brunneo, viridi-cyaneo distincteé aks ;

. 1. melanorhyncha. . 2. amauroptera,

. 3. gouldi.

. 4, leucocephala.

. 5. fraseri.

. 6. burmanica.

. 7. gurial.

. 8. malaccensis. . 9. floresiana.

It will always be a moot question whether several of the above species are not climatic modifications of one typical form; but I think, from the fact of each bird mentioned pos- sessing a certain clearly specified character, they may all be regarded as good species.

Subfam. II. DacreLoniné.

Conspectus generum Daceloninarum.

a. Rostro longiore quam cauda. a’. Digitis tribus b'. Digitis quatuor. a. Halluce longiore quam digito interiore 6". Halluce digitum interiorem zquante. al". Tarso longiore quam halluce . b". Tarso hallucem equante 4. Rostro breviore quam cauda. a’. Culmine levi, rotundato. a". Rectricibus 12. a’, Commissuré serrata b". CommissurA integra.

mm

a'". Naribus linearibus.

aa. Tarso breviore quam halluce cum ungue mensurato.

a'. Commissura recta: sexibus similibus

6o'. Commissurd valdé curvaté: sexibus dissimilibus . 4b. 'Tarso longiore quam halluce cum ungue mensurato.

cec’.. Rostro:simo..,.Ju..7 225i aa

dd'. Rostro compresso, culmine rotundato. a, Commissura recta . 4b". Commissuré curvata

6. Ceyx. 7. Ceycopsis.

8. Myioceyz. 9. Ispidina.

. 10. Syma.

. ll. Haleyon. . 12. Dacelo.

. 13. Todirhamphus.

. 14, Monachalcyon. . 15. Caridonaz.

CLASSIFICATION. xi

b!'", Naribus parvis, oblongatis . . .... =. . . . 16. Carcineutes. Cree Gch chs’) wm alla paete Dalben yt iver «+ 17. Tanysiptera. b!. Culmine simo vel sulcato. e”. Culmine recto, mtegro. . . . ee tn ey pg LOr CHENG, d", Culmine versus apicem valdé eel et Fence. . . . . 19. Melidora.

Although it is very difficult to determine some of the above genera, I firmly believe that they are all well established, the principal difference being found in the bill, as will be seen by a reference to the plate. As, however, these differences are those of degree, I have sought for secondary characters in my diagnosis of the genera, in order to aid the researches of the student. First of all we have the most Alcedinine-looking birds of the subfamily in the small section where the bill is longer than the tail; and it is here we must first look for the chain of affinity. This is speedily found in the genera Jspidina and Ceyx on the one hand, and in the genera Corythornis and Alcyone on the other. I have already spoken of the connecting links between Ceye and Alcyone; and it is not hard to find another direct affinity between Corythornis and Ispidina, not only in the genera, but in the species; for it would not be difficult to believe that Corythornis galerita and Ispidina leucogastra were one and the same species at no very distant period of time. Secondary facts tend to confirm this suggestion, especially since both species occur in the same limited district, being confined in their range to the countries and islands bordering on the bights of the west coast of Africa*. In ordinary specimens of C. galerita the difference is sufficiently striking; but sometimes the old birds get very white on the belly; and this circumstance, added to the fact that C. galerita has a shorter crest than the other two species of Corythornis, renders it by no means impossible to mistake an adult example for Jspidina leucogastra. Again, the last-named species exhibits a slight keel on the bill, and is partly piscivorous in habit; so that it is by no means certain that Prince Bonaparte and Mr. G. R. Gray are so very far wrong in placing it in Corythornis. Indeed the species may be considered either an aberrant Corythornis or an aberrant Ispidina. Let no one, however, suppose that, on account of this apparent connexion between the two genera, I consider them identical. Not in the least; for the true Jspidine, such as I. picta and J. natalensis, are entirely different in form and in habit. The Jspidine nest in holes of trees (never in banks), and, again, are purely insecti- vorous. Some, such as J. madagascariensis, are only found in the thick forests, while others frequent the banks of streams, but never feed on fish. ‘Two species, which I have included in the genus Jspidina in my ‘ Monograph,’ are so decidedly aberrant that, on account of their flat bills and longer tarsi, I propose to separate them under a distinct genus, which may be called Myioceyx. ‘The characters are given in the Plate of Genera (figs. 6, 6¢,6 6). Leaving Ispidina madagascariensis as the last of the Jspidinw, we have to consider now the next step in our approach to Melidora, the curious genus Ceycopsis from Celebes. ‘This appears to be a direct link between Jspidina and Ceyx, not only in form but also in combining the peculiar coloration of the two genera. The absence of true Ceyx from Celebes has always been noticed by Mr. Wallace and ourselves as a peculiar feature in the avifauna of that island ;

* This we say advisedly ; for we do not believe that C. galerita really occurs in North-east Africa. 62

xii CLASSIFICATION.

and we were therefore not a little interested when a Ceycean form turned up in that locality. Still more were we surprised on finding that it presented a recognizable link between the Ethiopian /spidinw and the Malayan Ceyces. ‘The bill partakes more of the form of the latter genus; but an inner toe is present as in [spidina, though very small. In ~ the Plate are representations of the bills and feet of the genera Ceycopsis (figs. 5, 5 a) and Ceyx (figs. 4, 4a), while a good figure of Ceycopsis fallax will be found in the body of the work. This concludes the consideration of the short-tailed Dacelonine genera, a synopsis of which I next proceed to give.

Genus 6. Cryx.

Type. Ceyx, Lacép. Mém. de YInst. 1801,p.511. . . ... =. =. . . i tridactyla, Ceycis, Gloger, Handb. der Naturg. p. 338.2) 52 2 ee ? Therosa, Miller, MS... 1) th) Oo a Re Se

Clavis specierum.

A. Capite et uropygio lilacinis : rostro corallino. a. Macula ad latera colli ceruleé nulla. a'. Scapularibus lilacinis.

a". Tectricibus alarum rufis, haud ceruleo lavatis . . . . . 1. rufidorsa. b". Tectricibus alarum nigris ac rufis, ceruleo lavatis . . . . 2. sharpii. 6'. Scapularibus nigris ceruleo lavatis. . . . . . . . . . 8. dillwynni. 4. Macula ad latera colli cerulea. a'. Major: interscapulio et scapularibusrufis . . . . . . 4, melanura. b'. Minor: interscapulio et scapularibus nigris ceruleo ayaa . . 5. tridactyla.

B. Capite nigro, ceeruleo aut cyaneo maculato: dorso postico et uropygio cyaneis, ultramarinis, aut argenteo-ceruleis. a. Rostro corallino. : a'. Rostro breviore: genis et regione parotica yi : dorso postico et uropygio argenteo-ceruleis . . . . . Ta. st Ae eee . Rostro longiore: genis et regione paroticé cyaneo aut ceruleo maculatis: dorso postico et uropygio cyaneis aut ultramarinis. a", Scapularibus nigris: dorso postico et uropygio leté cyaneis. 7. wallacii. b", Scapularibus czruleo lavatis: dorso postico ultramarino : uropygio cyanescente. | a'', Major: rostro robustiore: maculis loralibus majoribus : capitis summi maculis et interscapulio cerulescentibus . 8. lepida. "", Minor: subtts intensé aurantia: uropygio leté argente-

SCONE) + 6 ha «cee ple 6 EgetiRcn gira? 6 oli int paige ae ann spre nigro: capite cyaneo Biactkto, '. Major: pectore et abdomine intensé rufs . . . . . . . 10. philippinensis.

i) Minor: pectore et abdomine flavis: guldalbA . . . . . . 11. solitaria.

CLASSIFICATION. xili

Genus 7. Crycopsis. Type.

Ceycopsis, Salvad. Atti R. Accad. Torino, 1869, p.447 . . . . . C. fallax. Species unica. Ceycopsis fallax (Schl. Ned. Tijdschr. 1866, p. 387). ‘ Genus 8. Myiocryx. Myioceyz, Sharpe, antea, p. xi . M. ruficeps. Clavis specierum. a. Capite rufo, fronte nigra . aie eee te We an. ruaficens. 6. Capite nigro, cyaneo fasciato. . . . . . . . . . . . « 2 leconiii. Genus 9. ISPIDINA. as : Type. Ispidina, Kaup, Fam. Eisv. p. 11 (1848). . . . . .. . . . FL picta. Clavis specierum. a. Dorso leté ultramarino. a’. Abdomine rufo. or eeteula auricular nally ie fs a ks La pita. 6". Maculé auricularicyaneA. . . . . . « . . . . . 2 natalensis. Cee eee AIO: weg ee en Ne SS 8. leucogastra. epee CUOIO, oo ee unl snes) «3 (U} } } Ce 4. madagascariensis. Genus 10. Syma. Type. marae, bers. Voy. Cog, 4. p.'688' (1828) . 9. . . « Y-. . .'°. SS. torotoro.

The genus Syma is closely allied to Halcyon, from which it differs in its serrated bill. In plumage it closely assimilates to the cinnamon-coloured group of the genus Halcyon.

Clavis specierum.

GIGS ek Ta) yw ws deat wt ww 1. torotoro. b. Rostro flavo, versus apicem nigro . . ....... =. =. & flavirostris.

Genus 11. Hatcyon.

The genus Halcyon has been divided by systematic ornithologists into many genera, a careful examination of which convinces me that these differences are merely those of style of plumage, and not those of form. ‘The following table will indicate the manner in which

these genera have been founded :—

Type. Halcyon, Swains. Zool. Illustr. i. text to pl. 27 (1820) . . . . . . H. senegalensis.

Entomothera, Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p, 173, note (1820) . . . H. coromanda.

XIV CLASSIFICATION.

Calialcyon, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 156 (1850) . Chelicutia, Reich. Handb. Alced. i. p. 38 (1851)

Actenoides, Hombron & Jacq. Voy. Péle Sud, Zool. iii. p. 100 (1853)

Cancrophaga, Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 9 (1854) Cyanalcyon, Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 9 (1854) . Pagurothera, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. ii. p. 152 (1860) Entomobia, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. ii. p. 154 (1860) Sauropatis, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. i. p. 158 (1860) Caridagrus, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. ii. p. 161 (1860) Astacophilus, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. ii. p. 162 (1860) .

Clavis specierum.

A. Rostro toto rubro. a. Pileo lilacino . ieee ‘ b. Pileo rufo-castaneo : fica posting leet’ inde aee. a'. Scapularibus castaneis, subtus alba. b'. Scapularibus viridi-cyaneis. a". Gutture et pectore medio albis b". Gula albi: pectore toto castaneo oh gee nigro: dorso postico ultramarino. . Abdomine cyaneo A Abdomine flaveanerianien d. Pileo albescente: dorso leté cyaneo. e'. Major: pileo albido: coloribus purioribus. f'. Minor: pileo cinerascente: coloribus dilutioribus . e. Pileo brunneo, distincté striato: rostro breviore. g'. Majores: scapularibus nigris. a'. Pectore brunneo striato bes Pectore unicolori .

. Minor: scapularibus brunneis

f. ute cinereo, thalassino lavato: pectore cinereo : ibatustne ssiddg

albo B. Maxillé rubra: mandibuld nigra. a. Scapularibus leeté thalassino lavatis. a'. Major: pileo leté thalassino: paroticam producta . b'. Minor: pileo fusco-cinereo : 6. Scapularibus nigerrimis. ec’. Major: capite summo brunneo . d'. Minor: capite summo cinereo

C. Rostro nigro vel nigricante, mandibuld ad wer pin etonnies a. Pileo albo .

strigd nigra circa oculum eunte

b. Pileo saturaté ultramarino. a'. Uropygio albo 4. Uropygio letissimé cyaneo.

strigi nigré ultra regionem

Type.

H. coromanda. H. chelicutensis. H. hombroni.

H. badia.

H. pyrrhopygia. H. chelicutensis. H. cyaniventris. H. sancta.

H. concreta. H. lindsayi.

A

Fans <5

. coromanda. . badia.

. smyrnensis. . gularis.

. cyanoventris. . pileata.

. erythrogastra.

. semicerulea.

. albwentris. . orientalis. . chelicutensis.

. senegaloides.

. cyanoleuca. . senegalensis.

. dryas. . malimbica.

albicilla.

leucopygia.

CLASSIFICATION. XV

a’. Scapularibus migerrimis .. 2) 29) file <ee4 so) «19. nigrocyanea. 5". Scapularibus leté cyaneis. ReereugOmane IMO CyANEO . ._ eles pep) oe) = =, 20. lazuli.

6". Abdomine imo albo. a". Rostro nigro, basin versus fulvescente: fem. torque pec- Maange. S | . eon ei. oy ol. Macleay. b"". Rostro toto nigro: fem. torque pectoralicyaneo. . . 22. diops. ec. Pileo leté vel sordidé viridi, cyaneo vel viridi-cyaneo, interdum sed rarius albo, viridi medio notato. RIT ENIO eG) ok, Se Sha) add Gawain «) . 28. pyrrhopygia. 4'. Uropygio leté vel viridi-cyaneo. a". Collo postico cimnamomeo. a. Uropygio sordidé viridi.

a'", Major: subtis pallidé cmmamomina . . . . . . 24. cinnamomina.. b'". Minor: subtts intensé cmnamomina . . . . . . 25. australasie. b'. Uropygio leté cyaneo. a'". Subtus squamata, plumis albis, viridi marginatis . . 26. lindsay. b"". Subtus intensé fulva. aa. Pileo sordidé olivaceo-viridi. . . . . . . . . 27. concreta. bb. Pileo saturaté cyaneo. . . . . «© « - « ~ + 28. hombroni.

6". Collo postico albo, vel albo nigricante notato. al". Capitis lateribus albis. Ure Wie ee ED ys «ow, eo so Os SOCTA. Pr Ordide vinuiine tee Gee me ts + BO. Fula. b". Capitis lateribus viridibus, pileo concoloribus. a Subtis alba.

aa. Pileo et dorso superiore leté viridibus . . . . . 81. chloris. bb. Pileo et dorso superiore sordidé viridibus . . . . 82. sordida. b"". Subtis alba, viridi-nigro maculato . . . . . . . 83. forsteni. ce", Subtus fulyescentes. cc. Major: supra sordidé viridis. . . . .. =. . . 84 vagans. dd. Minor: supra leté viridis . . ... =. =. . . 85. sancta. d. Pileo dorsoque superiore cum scapularibus saturaté brunneo-nigris : eee. cs ge nh wes; fe fw OO. Sunebris.

Now, although so many different styles of plumage are exhibited in the above tabular dia- gram, yet in form the birds are nearly identical, and certainly belong to one genus. ‘The first section, with the head lilac, contains only one species, of which, however, there are several subspecies. Next we have three species whose predominant colour is chestnut, though the tinge of this colour differs in each of the three, while the white, which is confined to the throat in H. gularis, extends on to the breast in 1. smyrnensis, and over the whole under- surface in //. badia. Only two species have the head black; and these are very distinct and different from all other members of the genus. Of all the above-mentioned birds Halcyon badia, which is a representative in Western Africa of a thoroughly Indian type of Halcyon, is the only Ethiopian species, the others being every one Asiatic. ‘The presence in West

xvl CLASSIFICATION.

Africa of such a form of Kingfisher has yet to be accounted for, especially when it is remembered that it is coexistent along the bights of the Gold Coast with Pitta angolensis, also an isolated representative of an Indian genus.

The next subdivision contains two species with beautiful white heads. It is questionable, after the experiences detailed by M. Jules Verreaux in the account of H. semicerulea in the body of the work, whether H. erythrogastra should be considered any thing more than a large and brightly coloured subspecies of the continental bird. The next section contains nothing but Kingfishers purely of an Ethiopian type, with striped heads and a very distinct crest; and, lastly, we have apparently the connecting link between the red-billed section of the group and those which have the bill particoloured, black and red. This species is H. senegaloides, which possesses a red bill and yet partakes thoroughly of the style of plumage of Halcyon senegalensis. This last-named species, with H. cyanoleuca, constitute the next subdivision; along with two other species remarkable for their robust form (ZH. dryas and H. malimbica), these are the largest Haleyones of the Ethiopian type.

The third division of the genus contains all the species having dusky black bills with the base of the lower mandible yellowish ; and I still subdivide the Kingfishers it contains accord- ing to the colour of the head. Thus my first section contains only one species, which has the head pure white; this is H. albicilla; but it is to be remarked that I have every reason to believe that H. sacra, which is the representative of this species in Oceania, when very old, assumes a white head, though I have never yet seen one with the head entirely white. Secondly, we have a small subdivision with brilliant blue plumage, forming the genus Cyanaleyon of Bonaparte. I have asked M. Jules Verreaux about this genus, for which Bonaparte quotes him as the authority ; and he assures me that it was never published by him, and he was much surprised to see his name in print; all he remembers is mentioning in the course of conversation to Prince Bonaparte that these blue Kingfishers formed a section in the genus Halcyon, which might be termed subgenerically Cyanaleyon, and that the Prince made a note of it at the time, which it seems he afterwards published. The Blue King- fishers all possess striking characteristics, the males and females in every species, so far as we yet know, differing conspicuously one from another. They all have brilliant-coloured backs, with the exception of HZ. leucopygia, which, as its name denotes, has the back white. H. nigrocyanea is one of the largest of the section, and is at once distinguished by its black scapulars. ‘Those which have the scapulars cobalt are three in number, viz. /. lazuli, H. diops, and HH. macleayi. The blue on the breast and abdomen separates the first of these three; and of the last two the females are also not difficult to distinguish, but the males are very similar. All the remaining species of Halcyon have green heads, inclining, according to the species, to more or less of a blue colour: they have been generally classed in the genus Todiramphus; but, as will be presently seen, the members of this genus are really very distinct in form. One of the most remarkable species of the green group is Halcyon pyrrhopygia, which, by reason of its red back, stands alone from all its congeners. Next we have a group of cinnamon-coloured Haleyones, of which the first two, H/. cinnamo- mina and H. australasiw, approach Syma in style of coloration. The first of these two

CLASSIFICATION. xvii

species appears to differ wonderfully in plumage, some of the stages being given in the present work ; but it is difficult to determine, in the present state of our knowledge, which is the very old bird; for they differ conspicuously even when all traces of young plumage have disappeared. The other subdivision of the cinnamon-coloured section contains three species, two of which have been long known to science, and have been made the types of the genera Caridagrus and Astacophilus of Messrs. Cabanis and Heine. The third species, H. hombroni, is at present only represented by the unique specimen in the Paris Museum. The next section contains several species, all of which seem to have two forms, a bright- and a dingy- coloured representative. Thus H. julie is the dull-coloured representative of H. sacra, H. sordida of H. chloris, and H. vagans of H. sancta. The habitats of these dark-coloured forms are always distinct; and I have therefore no hesitation in keeping them separate. Of the first section of this green group of the genus Halcyon there are two species, which have a very distinct superciliary cincture encircling the head. Of these Halcyon sacra is, as far as I can see, the Polynesian representative of H. albicilla; for in some stages of plumage, where the head gets white, they must be very hard to distinguish; yet the young are totally different, as will be seen by a reference to the Plates given in the ‘ Monograph.’ H. julie is only a dark-coloured representative of H. sacra, and bears the same relation to that species that 7. sordida does to H. chloris and H. vagans to H. sancta. The last-named birds call for little remark; and so we have only to notice the remaining species of the genus, which stands quite alone: this is H. funebris, readily to be distinguished by its dark brown (sometimes black) head and back.

Genus 12. Dacsxo.

Type. Datei, bese, Zogl.Mise. a. paleo (ISIS). ces ww ww CO@"O puss Paraicyon, Gloger, Fror. Notiz. p. 278 (1827). . ... . . =. . D. gigas. Choucalcyon, Less. Traité d’Orn. p. 248 (1831) . . . . . . . . Dz. gigas. Nycticeyx, Gloger, Handb. d. Naturg. p. 338 (1842) . . . . . . D.gigas. Sauromarptis, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. ii. p. 163 (1860) . . . D. gaudichaudi.

Clavis specierum. a. Scapularibus brunneis. a’. Sexibus similibus : pileo medio rufescenti-brunneo, utrinque albido: cinctu nuchali brunneo. . : : 1. gigas. '. Sexibus dissimilibus, mari cauda esieh a "femind (cauda rufa) distinguendo : pileo distincté striato.

a", Subtis albescens, fasciis parvis brunneis. . . . . . . . 2. leachi. b". Subtis cervine. a'', Pogonio externo rectricis extimi maris albo hand fasciato . 3. cervina.

6". Pogonio externo rectricis extimi maris albo distincté fasciato 4. occidentalis. 6. Scapularibus nigerrimis. @ eueomero.... . ios vt ee eee tte ew. « Op gamdichaudt. b. Pileo nigro ochraceo sanbiat iat, Ras « Ge 6G. dyro.

XViil CLASSIFICATION.

The genus Dacelo certainly does not stand in affinity close to Halcyon, for properly Todi- ramphus is the most nearly allied; but I have found it more convenient in the tabular classification to arrange them in the present order, and therefore keep to the arrangement. The present genus contains the largest members of the whole family of Kingfishers, some of them being so powerful as to prey on small Mammalia. It may be divided into two sections, the larger ones being the species of “ Jackass,” and the smaller ones exhibiting a certain affinity to Caridonax and Halcyon. Most of the Dacelones differ according to sex, the male always having a blue tail, and the female a brown one; but one species in each section differs from the general rule, and has the sexes similar.

Genus 13. ToDIRHAMPHUS.

Type. Todirhamphus, Less. Mém. Soc. d’Hist. Nat. ii. p. 420 (1828) . . . T. veneratus. Coporhamphus, Gloger, Handb. Naturg. p. 338 (1842) . . . .. . Fy Clavis specierum.

a. Torque collari nullo .°. 3 © uw “es ce ie nee a b. Torque collari lato.

a". Subtis fulva. .. 0... 6 6 es ee ee

6". Subtiis alba 5... Ss woe Me

‘These species are all confined to the various groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean, and are very little known to ornithologists. TZ. veneratus stands alone; but 7. tutus and T. recur- virostris are closely allied to species of Halcyon, the former to H. sacra and the latter to H. sancta, These birds the two above-mentioned Todirhamphi resemble very closely in plumage, and might easily be mistaken for them by a careless observer; but they are cer- tainly specifically separable, and belong to totally distinct genera.

Genus 14. MonacHALCYON.

Type. Monachalcyon, Reich. Handb. Alced. p. 87 (1851) . . . . . . . M. monacha,

Species unica. M. monachus (Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. p. 154, ex Forster, MS.).

In form of bill Monachalcyon seems intermediate between Tanysiptera and Halcyon, being in general appearance not far removed from the cinnamon group of Halcyones, while in the young plumage it very much resembles Tanysiptera. The difference between young and old birds of Monachalcyon is very curious.

Genus 15. Cariponax.

Type. Caridonax, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. ii. p. 162 (1860) . . . . C. fulgidus.

CLASSIFICATION. xix Species unica. C. fulgidus (Gould, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 65).

This, again, is a link between Halcyon and Tanysiptera, though more closely allied to the latter genus. The smoothness of the rounded culmen, the comparatively short bill, and long tail, however, are peculiar to this genus.

Genus 16. CARCINEUTES.

Type. Carcineutes, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. ii. p. 163 (1860) . . . . C. pulchellus. Lacedo (!!), Reich. Handb. Alced.i.p.41 (1851) . . . . . . . C. pulchellus. Clavis specierum. See TUM EL Aiea cle Neti. wl) TOM EN eh sar oe wi. be pulchellus. MEER TiPSE re US el ake ee iat bes is JalBarfesrme “adlcstxce a4 Ce 2. melanops.

This is a curious genus, as will be seen by a reference to the peculiar formation of the bill in the Plate of Genera (fig. 15). Its affinities are apparently between Halcyon and Dacelo; for while partaking somewhat of the character of the plumage of a Halcyon, it has the sexes different as in Dacelo, which it also resembles slightly in form of bill. The difference of the sexes, however, is pushed further than in Dacelo; for in the present genus the entire plumage of the female is red, and the predominating colour of the entire plumage of the male is blue, whereas in Dacelo this difference in colour holds good in most species, but only in the tail, which differs in colour, being blue in the male and rufous in the female.

Genus 17. TANYSIPTERA.

Type. Tanysiptera, Vig. Trans. Linn. Soc. xiv. p. 483 (1825). . . . . . . TV. dea (Linn.). a ee dae ooo, Pp. a0G) a. ss sk elt elt} CT. Sylvia.

Clavis specierum. A. Macula dorsali alba. Se CUMAGTADEINER Ts, is aa tiat whe wll ee Meee ee} 1. oyleia. b. Subtis albe. a’. Scapularibus saturaté ultramarinis: tectricibus supracaudalibus

cunt reciricibus ceeruleomargmatis. ..’. . . '. . . . 2 doris. '. Similis 7. doridi, sed paullo major: pileo argenteo-cyaneo: rec- tricibus cyaneo angustissimé marginatis . . .. . . . . 8. emilia. ce’. Scapularibus nigris, ultramarino claré lavatis: tectricibus supra- caudalibus cum rectricibusalbis . . . . .... . =. . 4 sabrina. B. Macula dorsali nulla. PCCSUROOUGD 5 i Go ss kw | et te ee tl «CO. nympho b. Uropygio albo. memermuaaWenmepatainth. 2 Sf. ek kw lt tl lw Uw fe «CG, Clio.

b', Cauda spatulata. c2

2% CLASSIFICATION.

a". Genis, regione parotica et collo postico nigris. a. Rectricibus exterioribus nigris, ceruleo marginatis . . . 7. hydrocharis. }!". Rectricibus exterioribus albis, ceruleo marginatis. . . . 8. acis.

b". Genis, regione parotica et collo postico saturaté ceruleis.

a, Pileo ultramarino: superciliis cum nucha cyaneis: tectrici- bus caudalibus postremis nigris . . .

kis 9. margarethe. }!, Pileo concolori: tectricibus caudalibus omnino albis.

a™, Dorso cyanco maculato ... 2 5 =e se = one. yf", Dorso-concolori . . . “eee ee ee ee ce", Genis, regione parotica et collo postico viridi-cyaneis. . . . 12. riedeli.

It is to be regretted that the Alcedo dea of Linneus, the type of this genus, is not recognizable; and I have therefore left the name out of the question as tending only to confuse. The locality given by Seba and the older authors as the habitat, Ternate, is now known not to contain a species of Tanysiptera. Professor Schlegel and I differ in our estimate of the value of the species recognized by me, as he is inclined to consider them variations of one type, while I regard them as good species, seeing that the characters of each are permanent, and the geographical range of each peculiar to the species itself.

Genus 18. CirrvrRa.

Type. Citiura, Kaup, Fam. Eisv. p. 8.(1848):. >. .° 2.) 2a" By Clavis specierum. a. Plumis superciliaribus pallidé lilacmo-rubentibus . . . . . . . 41. cyanotis. 6. Plumis superciliaribus albo terminatis . . . . . . . . . . . 2. sanghirensis.

The genus Cittwra has a remarkable bill, which is grooved along the culmen, as repre- presented in the Plate (fig. 16). Whether the beautiful C. sanghirensis is really a distinct species, or whether it is only the breeding-plumage of the ordinary C. cyanotis, remains to be seen; but that it is not confined to Sanghir is certain, from the fact of my having received it from Celebes on two different occasions. Mr. Renesse van Duivenbode also sent me a note to say that C. cyanotis varied much with the season of the year. Against the probability of the two species being identical must be mentioned the larger bill, black forehead, and white-tipped eyebrow, all of them conspicuous characters in C. sanghirensis.

Genus 19. Me.ipora. Type. Melidora, Less. Traité d’Orn. p. 249 (1831) . . . . . . . +. « M. macrorhyncha.

Species unica. M. macrorhyncha (Less. Voy. Coq. i. p. 692). In this genus we have the extreme type of the Dacelonine; and we have seen the bill, as the birds became more and more insectivorous, gradually go through various modifications, becoming more and more depressed, until in the present genus the groove, which was appa-

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. Xxi

rent in the culmen of Cittura, is here more strongly developed, while the apex of the bill is furnished with a hook, which doubtless subserves some useful purpose in procuring food, with which we are at present unacquainted.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

Genus 1. ALCEDO.

Range of the Genus.

Over the greater part of the Old World, but does not extend into the Australasian Region proper—the furthest authentic range of an Alcedo being, so far as we know, into the Austro-Malayan subregion to New Guinea.

Range of the Species.

1. Alcedo ispida. Over the whole of the Western Palearctic Region, but of rarer occur- rence in the north. Found in Northern Africa, and extends into Egypt and Palestine. Its range to the east is undetermined; but it is probably replaced throughout the Eastern Palearctic Region from Persia and Central Asia, by the next species.

2. Alcedo bengalensis. The representative of A. ispida, which it replaces in the east. It has been found to the westward as far as North-eastern Africa, having been met with in Egypt and the Sinaitic peninsula. Its eastern range extends over the whole of the Indian Region and into the Eastern Palearctic as far as Amoorland and Japan; but its extent in this quarter is not yet satisfactorily determined. It is also found distributed over the whole of the Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese subregions, and extends into the Austro-Malayan as far as Gilolo, where, however, it can only be a rare and occasional visitant.

3. Alcedo grandis. ‘The largest species of Alcedo yet discovered. As yet it has been only obtained in the Terai, below Dazjiling.

4. Alcedo moluccensis. Although belonging to the same section of the genus Alcedo as the foregoing, its nearest ally is Alcedo bengalensis, which it replaces in the Moluccas, where it is generally distributed, though, as far as we yet know, it is confined to the Austro- Malayan subregion *.

5. Alcedo quadribrachys. Confined to the Ethiopian Region, principally to the west coast, but has been known to occur in Natal once. Not yet met with in North-eastern Africa.

6. Alcedo asiatica. Generally distributed over the Indo-Malayan subregion, extending into the eastern part of India proper, and also into Cochin China. Found likewise in Celebes.

7. Alcedo semitorquata. Confined to the Ethiopian Region, over the whole of which it is distributed, but is more common in South Africa.

* The locality, “ Flores” (Wallace), given in my account of this species should be expunged from the list of habitats, as I afterwards discovered that the bird brought by Mr. Wallace from this island was not the true A. moluccensis, but the bright race of A. bengalensis, named by Reichenbach A. sondaica,

xxii GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

8. Alcedo euryzona. A very rare species, the young and old birds differing conspicuously. Entirely confined to the Indo-Malayan subregion.

9. Alcedo beryllina. A small species—indeed, the least of the genus. Confined to the southern islands of the Malayan subregion, where its range appears limited to Java and the small islands running to the eastward.

The subjoined Table will give the best idea of the geographical distribution of the genus Alcedo. There are four groups in this genus, in connexion with which fact some interesting points will be noticed :—Ist, the four species of the Alcedo ispida group, which are distri- buted over nearly the whole of the Old World, but do not extend into the Australian Region proper, where their place is taken by species of Alcyone ; nor do they range into the Ethiopian Region beyond a very narrow limit in North-eastern Africa; 2nd, the species of the Alcedo asiatica group, of which there are two, one confined to the Indo-Malayan subregion, while the other occurs in Africa, no intermediate form being met with in the countries between. Were it not for the fact that M. Jules Verreaux tells me he has shot the African species in Natal, its range would be almost identical with that of Halcyon badia— another Kingfisher, of an Indian group, exclusively confined to a limited portion of Western Africa; 3rd, the single species Alcedo semitorquata, which is confined to the Ethiopian Region, where it seems to represent Alcedo bengalensis, as its range commences where that of the latter leaves off, and extends throughout the length and breadth of the African continent ; and, 4th, the species of the Alcedo beryllina group, of which there are two, A. ewryzona and A. beryllina. Both of these have white bellies with blue bands across the breast; both are confined to the Indo-Malayan subregion; both occur in Java, whence their ranges diverge— the one along the Malayan peninsula, the other to the small islands running to the east of Java, thus extending into the Austro-Malayan subregion.

Table of the Geographical Distribution of the Genus Alcedo.

| Panzarctic Region. sae Inp1an Region. Avustratasian Rucron.

, | Indo-Malay Timor Moluecan Papuan | Asia.| “ Telands. Celebes. Group. |. Group. Islands. | / ——$—$$ — —— —— SS eee OS ae eR.

g 3 é : Pp “ &o -_— 2/3 FI 2) ig £/2 DR E g S/5 ” ~ E . lo . . i a i} 2 2|.c - ls]. F S| 8/8] 4 l.gtalg g 3 Z Pe uy slag = lee (cB |e |e o Ss : = Ele|s| |¢| SLES 1 laisisis| |.| (sl 18 FI a) tae SISElIElelslelS(4/S iS leigisiél isisiei gis i6|¢ ais SlSIS|ESlslslslalelsle eslelsisle(seeis Sse | 8/8 3 5/2/-|Srslele ei | 2/31 8 ele elelE le tela | a sls lols lee” ABA IRA O lai | 1E 1a | EO ala [S| a lal O | A/S | |S le | WAIMDIOW santesusesans ee] ele | | 2. A. bengalensis ...... sneluashdeal We loan 6 ET cs lneadf ace * | | * Cae PE Hiden lh oelhen. o' Aaat BOOTIE oecnanvasscnlvauiivs aaalsvefsea{bsalp ea] eyell soe] cect], co aiiaeedtae 4. A. moluccensis ......|...]... vob bane leed ageless ¥en keall MeL eae 5. A. quadribrachys ...|...|... mpslaws| evel aes} ute AY | ER dl be 6, A, AMBER oiiccscoeseslecsiacs Hex henal veal agatval ceel] cee | eee] eee | one |] H [eee] 1] | H/T. | 7. A. semitorquata ...|...]... eas |evolsud|esstiens eee] He] [oe | eT | 8. A. euryzona ......... Re Pa oils eels auslene wevlf’ suet lonsiP ssi aoe" lloacleas #/*[*]... 9. A. beryllina ......... ee bse Pr) PES her bee Ree evel] exe | ¥o-, | o0e,] caoi||sen[naeloettese| Molina] ensivaal|\@eelfrane

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. Xxili

From the foregoing Table it appears :—

1. That the genus d/cedo is not represented in the Nearctic and Neotropical Regions, nor in the Australian Region proper.

2. That the Palzarctic Region has one peculiar species, while one Indian species just reaches its north-eastern limit.

3. That the Ethiopian Region has two peculiar species, while one Indian species just reaches its north-eastern limit.

4. That the Indian Region has one peculiar species. Three others, which have their maximum range within its limits, wander slightly beyond the boundaries, and therefore cannot be called peculiar to the region.

5. That the Australian Region, or, more properly speaking, the Austro-Malayan subregion, has one peculiar species.

Genus 2. CoryTHORNIS.

Range of the Genus. Strictly confined to the Ethiopian Region.

Range of the Species.

1. C. cristata. Found only in Madagascar and the adjacent islands.

2. C. cyanostigma. A bird of wide distribution over the entire African continent, but not extending to the Mascarene subregion, where it is replaced by C. cristata.

3. C. galerita. Confined to the west coast of Africa. Wherever it is found it appears that C. cyanostigma also occurs, with the exception of the islands in the Bight of Biafra, where C. galerita is found, but where C. cyanostigma has been only doubtfully met with.

Table of the Geographical Distribution of the Genus Corythornis.

EruiortaAn Recon.

rth-ea : . Se st | East Africa. | South Africa. West Africa. Madagascar. | : a2 |. ; 3g b a|% SiN, 4 - y 5 . col 5 sheila Es § a/al2|. z § || 3 = ee | ra - Pa 4 ei > 3 lm |G |i “a g A ie) oh leg 8 a = 3 Ry PS) Sigisizicis 2 ‘aila|o|G 3 Biel siPlsislslisielalsillsials| Siz lal4 A 2151210 SISslfzlelSisigIislsiseiSicis Po ee ee B| Pe) 2 | BSS e Piel lel slelaisi2|2|eie13/ 31513 a s +3 = | a] | a 4|a|E A S B14 (6/5/2415 la la la ld [eld /a lS 1a lala 2 la |e | ae OS ee ee) ee ee eee eS ee Ee ee SS ee Ee ee ee ee eS ee ee eee ee eee ee ee ee | | sane eee ereeenee| see ae | eee nee * * * * * «| «| * x x) x}e] ele |e] x «|x le]el wel x] x Siar alee # * | *

Genus 3. ALCYONE.

Range of the Genus. Over the Australian continent, and throughout the Papuan Islands and Austro-Malayan

XXIV GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

subregion generally, extending to the Philippine Islands, where an aberrant form occurs. It is doubtful whether the Philippine species of Alcyone really does not belong to Ceyx, so that true Alcyone may be said to be confined to the Australian Region.

Range of the Species.

1. A. azurea. Spread over the entire Australian continent.

2. A. pulchra. Coexistent with A. azurea in the northern portion of Australia, and perhaps replacing it to the north-west.

3. A. diemenensis. The representative of A. azwrea in Tasmania.

4. A. lessoni. Inhabits New Guinea and the Aru Islands.

5. A. affinis. ‘The representative of A. lessoni in Batchian and Gilolo.

6. A. pusilla. The smallest species of the genus, inhabiting the northern portion of Australia, extending over the Papuan Islands as far north as Gilolo.

7. A. cyanopectus. Confined to the Philippine Islands; but the precise locality is unknown.

Table of the Geographical Distribution of the Genus Alcyone.

| AusTRALASIAN Reaion.

INDIAN |)

RecIon. |;

| Moluccan Group. | Papuan Group. Australia.

Philip- - : New Aru | Australia| North [Van Diemen’s pines. | Batchian. Gilolo. Guinea. | Islands. | generally. | Australia. Land.

» AL AZUTOR, o...000c00c/ocedecceceee]|aceoesucle andapslsbuneeh tesa: ice aaeheeeel Saeeeaenenee + +

P ZA. palohra © seccecse. | -scesaescecallsonveseenen esos] bansecsersed unsere coteee] coemeeneee ed Cannan tee ane *

. A. diemenensis...... |. sce seccoseslleccoeceas acceweledaceseuaatl a cutee sei | Cee cake imal seme amare ea eee rae * 5» AS air a PoGac es lnk fetes eee * * oe. ee. eM

é f VORBONA :6e5:005e000es|cvonpssexesclleocsengyscaaunel Seeneeneieee * * PUBLLID ieee wonennnsd-eesonsas se sl [Rt nesnaeeraanee * x a ce *

“IAQ so Pooh |

|

Genus 4. CERYLE.

Range of the Genus.

Over the whole of the New World, where it is the only form of Kingfisher. In the Old World it ranges over the whole of the Ethiopian and Indian Regions, extending within the limits of the Palearctic Region in the south and north-east only. Does not extend into the Australian Region at all.

The various groups, each of which possesses a peculiar style of plumage, as pointed out (anted, p. vii), have all been separated into distinct genera at one time or another; and it may be useful to make use of these divisions in the present instance, as geographical pecu- liarities are exemplified by some of the divisions of the genus here indicated.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. XXV Range of the Species.

a. Megaceryle.

1. C. guttata. Confined to the Himalayan subregion. Its extent to the eastward not yet determined, but probably extending into China.

2. C. lugubris. Confined to Japan. Although treated as a separate species in the ‘Monograph,’ ornithologists must not consider it more than a local race of rather larger size than C. guttata, and should a large Pied Kingfisher be discovered in China, inter- mediate forms will doubtless be found to connect the two races.

b. Ceryle.

3. C. rudis. Found throughout the Ethiopian and Indian Region proper, visiting the south and south-east of Europe.

c Ichthynomus.

4. C. maxima. Found all over the Ethiopian Region. » 5. C. sharpet. A small form of C. maxima, but presenting apparently good specific cha- racters. At present known only from Gaboon and Congo.

d. Streptoceryle.

6. C. torquata. Over the whole of the Neotropical Region, excepting the southern portion, where its place is taken by C. stellata. It ranges as far north as Mexico.

7. C. stellata. The representative of the foregoing bird in the southern part of the Neotropical Region. It can be scarcely considered more than a local race.

8. C. alcyon. Replaces C. torquata all over North America, extending southwards as far as Panama and the Antilles.

e. Chloroceryle.

9. C. amazonia. Widely extended throughout the Neotropical Region, extending as far north as Mexico, and as far south as La Plata.

10. C. americana. Coexistent with the former over the Neotropical Region south of the Isthmus of Panama, but replaced by the next species along the western coast of the South-American continent. ;

11. C. cabanisi. The representative of C. americana along the western side of South America and through Central America as far north as ‘Texas.

f. Amazonis.

12. C. inda. Over the greater part of the Neotropical Region, but not the south. Found

also in Central America as far north as Nicaragua. d

XXV1 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

*[eDoUIg | ‘ovssig, | “OZUOULBSEY) | ‘9u0eT BatoIg | ‘oaqury | -fuuog | *suoorome” | : ‘seuoUL “48 | : * ‘og opurusay | “uooqey | ‘osu0g | : * x =@oBuy | “epuvoT | : ‘paryerevurecy | : x: *purpenbemeyy yrary | ‘Tevasueay, | “erreyyey | ‘TREN | “Auojop adep |

HLH) HLH) He) HL He

| % 5 ee *

*|* *

Erurorran Recion. KL HL ML RL %) MH) HR) HI...

“ISOquIeZ

* *

W. Africa.

iB Africa. S. Africa.

OTN OFAN. | ‘uRjopioyy | sreeuag | “ermissAqy | *purjsosog | ‘pLysi veg-poy | “equ |

“wOLUY “I~ NC |

N.-E. Africa.

“eooeye yy | “vIsy esouryy |

‘yeu, | ‘sudeteunpy | x

‘uojday pur eipuy |

INDIAN REGION.

-ermejodosep | : “RLOUUIB TT JO BAG | : “Apworg | ‘spuRysyT URIOa.LYy | ‘tour wIsy |: vag | ‘outsole | : ‘qddagy | “ero5[V | ‘under | ok

PaL#ARcTIC REGION. of | 9¢ | 9 | ge | 9] ae | 9 | 9 | oe |) oe | oe foe Toe fae |] ae | oe [oe | oe | ae | oe | oe | oe

-uorfoaqng uvruodeyeg-ouolyp |

Table of the Geographical Instribution of the Genus Ceryle.

MOLSaIqnY URITIZeIg-yINOY | ee:

“uorsoaqug uviuozeury | ns 2 ee

NEOTROPICAL REGION

“uoIsaIqng URIquNoD |

sommuy | i? : “woLLOmLy peaquay | it : 3

“ROLLOUTY 40 NT | ::

NEARCTIC Reaion.

PE Rdg. fe Ss z S : ag S <5 2 Jeep 82 SF a Gea Rigas gOO Oo sP? aa 8 Has

f. Amazonis.

d. Streptoceryle. 12. C. inda

6.°C. torquata........-|.-. 7. C. stellata .. 80) sleyoni.:...-:.: e. Chloroceryle. 9:-C. amazonia ......| ... a LOC. americana’. ..s:5|5-- |'2..'| 25.

U5 eg OF superciliosa ... aa

11. C. cabanisi .........

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. XXVli

13. C. superciliosa. Coexistent with the former bird in the Neotropical Region and Central America, perhaps extending its range a little further north than that bird.

Thus it will be seen that these subgenera have each a peculiar range—Megaceryle found only in the Himalayan subregion and Japan, true Ceryle in the Ethiopian and Indian Regions, Ichthynomus peculiar to Africa, and Streptoceryle, Chloroceryle and Amazonis to America.

Genus 5. PELARGOPSIS.

Range of the Genus.

Over the entire Indian Region, extending to Celebes and Flores within the limits of the Australian Region. To this latter Region two species are peculiar, while the other seven are characteristic of the Indian Region.

Range of the Species. a. Hylcaon.

1. P. melanorhyncha. Stands alone from all the rest of the genus by reason of its black bill. Confined to Celebes and the Sula Islands.

b. Pelargopsis.

2. P. amauroptera. Found in Eastern India, extending into Assam, Arakan, and the Tenasserim Provinces.

3. P. leucocephala. Confined to Borneo.

4. P. gouldi. Representative of the foregoing in the Philippines.

5. P. fraseri. Found in Malacca, Java, and Sumatra. In this latter island the form slightly varies. |

6. P. gurial. All over India and Ceylon, extending into Assam and Nepaul, where perhaps a slight difference occurs; but having seen additional examples from these localities since I wrote my paper on the genus (P. Z. S. 1870, p. 61), I am inclined to believe that there is not any difference of importance, though the cap seemed to be a little lighter in the specimen I had before me at the time.

7. P. malaccensis. Representing the foregoing in Malacca.

8. P. burmanica. Representative of P. gurial in Burmah, Siam, and the Andamans.

9. P. floresiana. Represents P. gurial in Flores.

d 2

XXViil GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

Table of the Geographical Distribution of the Genus Pelargopsis.

Inpian Reaion. AusTRALIAN Reeron. Indian Asia. Chinese Asia. Indo-Malay Islands. Celebes. | Timor Group. | | | Z ee < a hes a 3 . | , ope s a POE = S| S §°g & so | & g ma |e = 4/8/8189 (18/3 /8lgelelas elsleieileleicle SISISIELELEI Z| s|S8 Gs S/E/si2Ziala|sisiz AldSijlalalsa l/s /H8|/2l ae Awialsa lala lola|js|e\a 1. P. melanorhyncha ......}......|-..++ PE RE FR FR Pe ee * | % [2 P. amauroptera ......... va ee |eneee- cM fees ta Reccey beta hee: * Nhs, Se OULETUR cons ssesscyetcwe| Sp oaeeiacrees|evness dave ssfonededfesenie| toevals| adeaes [ses ont| Soease|Uesaes| seated names * | 4. P. leucocephala ......... |.svscelesssns|eccsecjeccees[acceee[orceeclecesae[ssesedfrerecalsorsve]seseenlenenee * Disc MEGNL Gao tepeaccee ones tecees beste Li aadvcl ceaven] cccaas'| ised oe| Saamen] Meeeteel pene tial aa * a. Sumatran race ...|..... .|.-0-..|:a0csc}aasee force ca|necaan|nssnes|tecest| demens bossa * NG. We urial juosteckccascsneres fey ae | a. Assamese race ...|.....-|...+6+ x | * : | |Z. D. malaccensis .........00.]2.000-|s0sccefecesea|sensee|ssoese[asvene[ooeoseleasenc|esvees * | 8. P. burmanica ............ ES oe ho elie ie = * | *« | * 9. P. floresiana ..............- | ie, | eo | Sie | beasts PEE bear Poosed Panter bactied osscsd| becel bbased cancel soos. pee | Reece [eee *

| | |

Genus 6. Cryx.

Range of the Genus.

Over the greater part of the entire Indian Region, over the whole of the Indo-Malayan and Austro-Malayan subregions as far as New Guinea.

Range of the Species. .

1. C. rufidorsa. Spread over the greater part of the Indo-Malayan subregion and extend- ing its range within the limits of the Austro-Malayan to the islands of Lombock and Flores.

2. C. sharpei. Confined to Borneo, where it probably represents C. rwfidorsa, which is rare there. .

3. C. dillwynni. Confined to Labuan and Borneo. It was discovered in the former island, but has since been obtained at Banjermassing, in Borneo.

4. C. melanura. Only found in the Philippine Islands.

5. C. tridactyla. Spread over India and Ceylon, extending into Nepaul and down the Malayan peninsula into the adjacent islands; also found in the Philippines.

6. C. eajeli. Confined to Bouru.

7. C. wallacei. Confined to the Sula Islands.

8. C. lepida. Commonly found in New Guinea, but has been sent from Ceram and Amboina.

9. C. uropygialis. The representative of the foregoing bird in Batchian, Gilolo and ‘Ternate.

10. C. solitaria. Principally found in New Guinea, but also sent from Ceram.

11. C. philippinensis. Confined to the Philippines.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. XX1X

There are four groups of the genus Ceyx, as follows:—l. The C. tridactyla group, with red bills and lilac plumage. 2. C. lepida group, with red bills but blue plumage. 3. C. solitaria, with a black bill. 4. C. philippinensis, with a blackish upper and orange lower mandible. Of these four different forms, the first group is typical of the Indian Region, scarcely reaching into the Australian, where the second group takes its place, the third group, containing only one species, is almost confined to the Papuan Islands, while the fourth, represented by one species also, is confined to the Philippines, where it forms the link between the genera Ceyx and Alcyone.

Table of the Geographical Distribution of the Genera Ceyx and Ceycopsis.

Inpran Ruaton. AustrALiAN Rearon. Asia. Indo-Malay Islands. Celebes. | Timor Group.| Moluccan Group. Papuan Islands. g ce} a s Ep A m2 * : os a 4 a _ cae : Elalé d é| 5 & R8iSiai¢ SRR See tee fee be eel ate ye | | SB (Spelelel slsisis 8/2) 3/2] 8 lelslalgidis|4s}2e1e S (Sie ei elisleledieailalsl|fiSilsisiBlsislal2e]8) & S iSlalalislislalamlolalalal&e lsislalaldsi4|/ 4a) / 4 Crrx. MOS HORCOLSH, <.0-sc]ocneose00 36 ade ait ee | SRSA IEE eves levallisceesselosas'es * | * AMO TSHALDOL ce. ccenilocsesns0s * AO: GUL WYNN: ..200-|)ssn0ese0 * | * A ©, MEMMUTS ©; ....q)enve-2c.s * 5. C. tridactyla ...... * ed [oe aa ha ea eee | PERO CATHIG ces ccceatuselyscea-< Slinasuticoer| ites |Iiac= jooeiflaee| wen foes [bSte<\S-cfo4 Rocce PENS Peeps loess lama WARE * eos WHILACEL fue. 0s fucseecdcr| wool] te=lliens Spe ete] opel Pace <aalfeen ss * | Ria. IEAGss, «-vsceos3| seeares|Iore" >= Pal | (ane fretelfisenl|| camtleas|[Uesanetnerefeecess|+<<uen|socroe] ieee, v0 fsice eee THE [05 iesecne |eswaes * ie Os Ure pyPialiay, w<-|deccsract| ives fi'se hove Sadler fee | rows - Seber] bathed Aneecs heenod eoeiee * | * | Ue © BOLIGATIE oc ¢62c8al 2 80s] ese | eae p tes a liter | Peeled (eet este] aes See Biel es eee ee (ene a * * * * 11. C. philippinensis..|......... Se) Pe | ores (Bleed Rte ieee rosa) Crycopsis. Mier ttl eax cessacs ver'eseelves'eeecs | Sen’ |'edea|" ae eae livseilyneeh|pesell meal fie AE

Genus 7. CEYCOPSIS.

Range of the Genus.

Confined to the island of Celebes, where it represents true Ceya, no species of which has yet been discovered on the island. Only one species of Ceycopsis exists up to the present time.

Genus 8. Myrocryx.

Range of the Genus. Confined to the west coast of Africa, on the countries bordering the Bight of Biafra.

XXX GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

Range of the Species. 1. VW. ruficeps. Hitherto only known from Aguapim and Fantee, countries of the Gold

Coast. 2. VW. lecontei. The only specimen known was sent by Du Chaillu from the Moonda

River, Gaboon. Genus 9. ISpIDINa.

Range of the Genus. This is one of the typical genera of the Ethiopian Region, over the whole of which, as well as Madagascar, it is distributed.

Range of the Species. 1. J. picta. Found in North-eastern Africa, and the whole of Western Africa from

Senegambia to Angola. 2. I. natalensis. The representative of the foregoing in Eastern and South-eastern

Africa. 3. I. leucogastra. The largest African species, found, but rarely, from Sierra Leone down

to Gaboon. 4. I. madagascariensis. Confined to the forest-region of Madagascar. By no means a

typical species, and exhibits great affinity towards Ceya and Ceycopsis.

Table of the Geographical Range of the Genera Myioceyx and Ispidina.

Erniorian Reeion.

North-east ; South 3 wee? East Africa. ‘AB on West Africa. o < 6 é 3 | lela} & A j2/5|8 (813 a} = -_= ide a a “ 2 yy oo e\elzle| 2 | 2 1a & letegegigeiecrelels Elaiais| #13 a | & ee\g) seis |5 |S. /218|2 3 = Ss 4 =|2l8/5| 3 | § [AlS HSS ESEleleisiasiae

Mytoceyx. | 2. Miornflcepe |.....c.cndaeteck ores sl ee ae |S. ME Nesonted .:.....sa.sc0endsewe.n nis scl one Me

6 (ho PIO a. <aicnasacspneutvancee eee 2. iL, natalensis ..2.\. Seseateatn eee el cali ny tee

Genus 10. Syma.

Range of the Genus.

Confined to the Australian Region, being only found in Northern Australia and the Papuan Islands.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. XXX1

Range of the Species.

1. S. torotoro. Only found as yet in New Guinea, the Aru Islands, Waigiou, and Mysol. 2. S. flavirostris. Represents the foregoing in Australia, where it is confined to the

Cape-York Peninsula. Genus 11. Hatoyon.

Range of the Genus.

Over the whole of the Ethiopian, Indian, and Australian Regions, and extending within the limits of the Palearctic Region by reason of the occurrence of a species in Japan and another in South-eastern Europe.

Range of the Species.

1. H. coromanda. This species has two or three subspecies, which differ from the typical form in size and in intensity of coloration. The Ruddy Kingfishers in their different allied forms range over the whole of the Indo-Malayan subregion, and occur in Japan and Celebes. The Kingfisher of Japan has been named ZH. schlegeli by Bonaparte, and is a little larger than typical*/7/. coromanda. Again, the form found in Celebes is still a little larger than the Japanese subspecies, and is much brighter in colour. The three subspecies seem, how- ever, to run one into the other, so that I have not treated them as distinct species.

2. H. badia. This is a small species of the chestnut-coloured group of Halcyon, to which belong also the two succeeding species. It is confined to the west Coast of Africa, being found as far north as Sierra Leone, southwards to the Gaboon. Since the species was described in my Monograph, I have received it from Governor Ussher in Fantee.

3. H. smyrnensis. Widely distributed, and ranging throughout the Indian Region, not extending, however, beyond the Malayan Peninsula. Occurs also on the Red Sea and in Syria and Palestine, even to Asia Minor.

4. H. gularis. 'The representative of the foregoing species in the Philippines, where, it seems, H. smyrnensis also occurs.

5. H. cyanoventris. Confined to the island of Java.

6. H. pileata. Spread over but confined to the entire Indian Region.

7. H. erythrogastra. Confined to the Cape-Verde Islands, where it represents the next species.

8. H. semicerulea. Found all over the northern part of the Ethiopian Region, and south- wards along the western coast to Ovampoland. Some ornithologists, like M. Jules Verreaux, whose experience carries great weight, maintain that this species and the foregoing are not separable, as, however different West-African specimens may be from those of the Cape- Verde Islands, Abyssinian ones are intermediate ; so that perhaps I was wrong in separating the two forms. Certain it is that the colouring of the plate of H. erythrogastra makes it impossible to appreciate the difference in the species; for the Dutch colourists have made the shading of the head so sharp and of such a dark colour, as to give the bird the appear-

XXXll

DWI Sh Goto

5 a

~

gobo

t This species is also said to inhabit the Philippines, New Caledonia, and the Marquesas Islands; but further confirmation is necessary.

. senegaloides ............

. cyanoleuca

- senegalensis . dryas . malimbica . albicilla - leucopygia - nigro-cyanea . lazuli . diops . macleayi - pyrrhopygia . cinnamominat ... . australasia . lindsayi - concreta

. Sacra . julize . chloris . sordida . forsteni . sancta . vagans

Av ae Abe

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

PAL#arcric

Inpian REGION. ReEGIon.

Asia.

Indo-Malay Islands.

India and Ceylon.

Chinese Asia.

Formosa. Andaman Islands.

| Asia Minor, | Palestine.

Hacyon. coromanda badia smyrnensis gularis eyanoventris pileata erythrogastra semicserulea

albiventris orientalis ........500 chelicutensis

sa eeeee

weet eeneeee

ween eeee

Cs Od ed eed Cd ed eed ed ee rd ee eg Cd ry res ered red | red red eres ers ard Se eeeeewneeeeeeeesleeelenelaeelscelera|| WM |W leweleealere

Syma.

te ewwwweeeewee leweleweleneleeelene

Toprruampnus., veneratus

tutus

Sane eeensesereresesselesslecs|soelecsioes

each instance.

Table of the Geographical Distribution AvsTRALIAN Region,

N.-W. Polynesia.

Timor

Celebes. Group.

Moluccan Group.

Nicobar Islands. Philippines. Marianne Islands. Pelew Islands. Morty Island.

Bouru.

Ceram. New Guinea.

Sula Islands. Amboina. Aru Islands. Mysol. Waigiou.

Gilolo. Ternate. Goram.

Pes Cees Cred eed Ped Cee es Ce eed Peed ey

wate eleweeeeleenleetlewel eee eeeeerl ers eeeeenlenalennlnaeleen|teelseulensl eel tet lonelene waal[eeeewnlewweweleceleenleeeleeeteereelanes Dh Pe es ed ed st eeeeneleeeweneee

steer leweweele

Res ees eee ees Ces Cred Od Cd Cees Cee eres fied fed Pr Od rd Oe en rr

p POMGDLIG sonsoxccsass cavers |secises| Pal ewelece ove] font eee) naeluaeles

eeweeler

|

XXXII

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

the Genera Halcyon, Syma, and Todirhamphus.

Ernropran REGION.

AUSTRALASIAN REGION.

‘spursy epse A-oduy | * “eiquiesoueg | ok x**x * ‘azuBurEsTy) | tk eens ae ‘oussig | 3 Hat 8 ‘qUuOaT BILOTG | * tk a "98809 PION | : ae ‘ondensy | : i ta oaet ‘eojungsy | : Tae crass ere ‘ooqunsy | * He * tke OK x ‘suoor0 mR | : eit seven eis its “requir | : pies lee ater ‘og opuvusoy | : Bus peas 15.8 “puvysy scoulrg | : Hos apie aK ‘ssvuloyy, “3g | : aS ee Sees “mooqey) | 2 tok tote ok * -osuvory | _— _——___ ‘o8u09 | : oes es ‘wposuy | : ik * KK x “ROLLE “MA | . . . . . ry . “wjonsuog | ; tok tok Ox odureag | : ox re “puryeavuecy | : ee Wes vitesse “‘pueyenbeureyy yrauy | : : Arie. ‘BOLTY “MS | : *puepenbeure yy epygrT | : *kuopop ody | Tg “BIIBLYRA | : wee: ‘THN | : ii x ‘Tevasuvay, | : tlotk ox “BOLIFY ‘S | eee uae "Isoquing, | : tit ix ok x ‘onbiquiesoyyy | ; Pe see anak : “IEqiZzunz, | : Evehied SRK "g8vop Toqeng | : Dus aes “BOLT W “OL | : ine Wenn ceeenie ‘SOTIN ONT pur oF AA | ; fA RRL sare: *puvjsosog | : pe aca aon: Titoge irs ‘aevug | : Beit) nesta sae “eruissAqy | : Posse ‘qoLystp veg pay | : 2 : "aiqeay '§ | ik SRG SUR ea ein "BOLE “GTN | ii BESS. * 4d snr | sie Se Sea eae : ‘spurysy svsonbavyg | 23 Hees See : * ‘spurysy Ajor0g | a Ue BAR RC * : * * ‘spuvysy vouteg | ite aah is Gea ee nee : ; : eS ‘spuyjsy ATpuaray | os SECC BRIS oe : ‘spurysy tft | nag ERAT SERS S: * ‘sapliqoy MeN | it a ee 08 ER eS “PURIST ALOJLON | zi iE Ob epee 2 i: * -wiuopeyeg Mon | ee : Pose ee aes 53

W. Africa.

S. Africa.

E. Africa.

N.-E. Africa.

XXXIV GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

ance of a white eyebrow. This does not exist, as the species, like H. semicerulea, has the head pure white; and the careful way in which the English colourists have rendered the plate of the latter bird makes the faulty colouring of that of H. erythrogastra the more conspicuous.

9. H. senegaloides. Confined to the coast-line of South-eastern Africa, being found only in Natal and Southern Mozambique.

10. H. albiventris. Confined to South Africa, ranging into Natal.

11. H. orientalis. Replaces the former bird along the east coast in the Zambesi region and Mosambique.

12. H. chelicutensis. Found all over the Ethiopian Region, those from the south being the largest.

13. H. cyanoleuca. Ranges all over the west coast of Africa and into South Africa, but appears not to extend into North-eastern Africa.

14. H. senegalensis. Coexistent with the former species in Western Africa, but does not extend below Benguela, where its place is taken by HH. cyanoleuca. It replaces, however, the last-named bird in North-eastern Africa, where //. cyanoleuca has not yet been met with.

15. H. dryas. Found only along the west coast of Africa, in the countries and islands bordering the Bight of Biafra, from Fantee to Gaboon.

16. H. malimbica. Coexistent with the former on the Gold Coast, but of wider distribu- tion, extending northwards to Senegambia, and southwards into Angola. Said to occur in Natal; but this seems doubtful.

17. H. albicilla. Confined to the Austro-Malayan subregion.

18. H. leucopygia. Confined to the Solomon Islands.

19. H. nigro-cyanea. Confined to New Guinea.

20. H. lazuli. Found only in Ceram and Amboina.

21. H. diops. Replaces the former in Batchian, Gilolo, and ‘Ternate.

22. H. macleayi. North and North-eastern Australia, as far south as Clarence River, and in Lizard Island, Torres Strait.

23. H. pyrrhopygia. Central Australia only.

24. HH. cinnamomina. Found only in the Austro-Malayan subregion.

25. H. australasie. A small representative of the foregoing, which it replaces in Timor and Lombock, to which two islands it is confined.

26. LH. lindsayi. Confined to the Philippines, and, as far as is at present known, to the island of Luzon.

27. H. concreta. Only found in the Indo-Malayan subregion.

28. HH. hombroni. Allied to the last, which it replaces in Mindanao.

29. H. sacra. ‘The representative apparently of H. albicilla in Oceania. So far as is reliably known, it is an inhabitant of the Figi, Friendly, and Samoa groups of islands.

30. LH. julie. A dark-coloured representative of H. sacra, which it replaces in the New- Hebrides group.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. XXXV

31. H. chloris. A very wide-spread species, occurring in North-eastern Africa* and over the whole of the Indian Region, and all over the Austro-Malayan subregion as far as New Guinea, and even extends to the Solomon Islands.

32. H. sordida. Replaces the foregoing species in North Australia, and is coexistent with it in New Guinea and the Aru Islands.

33. H. forsteni. Confined to the Island of Celebes.

34. H. sancta. Spread over the greater part of the Australian Region, and ranging into the Indo-Malayan subregion.

30. H. vagans. Represents H. sancta in New Zealand.

36. H. funebris. Confined to Gilolo.

Genus 12. TopIRHAMPHUS.

However exacting the claims of a recognizable classification may have been in our previous chapter, it would be out of all question to separate Todirhamphus from Halcyon in a consideration of the geographical relations of the two genera; and I have therefore transposed Dacelo and Todirhamphus in the present article, for the sake of a clearer understanding.

Range of the Genus.

Restricted to Oceania. Range of the Species. 1. T. veneratus. Confined to the Society Islands. 2. T. recurvirostris. Confined to the Samoan Islands, where it appears to represent Halcyon sancta. 3. T. tutus. Confined to the Society and Marquesas Islands, where it appears to repre- sent Halcyon sacra. Genus 13. Dacg.o.

Range of the Genus.

Over the continent of Australia, and northwards into the Austro-Malayan subregion. There are two distinct groups of this genus:—the true Dacelo, of which the Laughing Jackass is the type; and a smaller group, which has been named Sauromarptis by Cabanis and Heine. ‘The former of these two groups is confined to Australia, the latter replacing it in the Papuan Islands.

Range of the Species.

1. D. gigas. South-eastern Australia, from New South Wales as far north as Southern Queensland.

2. D. leachi. The representative of the foregoing species in Queensland.

3. D. cervina. ‘The representative of the foregoing in Northern Australia.

* By an oversight I have omitted to include this bird in my list of African Kingfishers (Ibis, 1869, p. 275), and, again, have not referred to the very elaborate article in the ‘ Vogel Ost-Afrika’s,’ by Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub, p- 165.

e2

XXXVi GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

4. D. occidentalis. The representative of the foregoing in North-western Australia. 5. D. gaudichaudi. Confined to the Papuan Islands and Ceram. 6. D. tyro. Represents the foregoing species in the Aru Islands.

Genus 14. MoNACHALCYON.

Range of the Genus.

Confined to Celebes. There is only one species.

Genus 15. CarIDonax.

Range of the Genus.

Confined to the islands of Lombock and Flores. Only one species is known.

Genus 16. CARCINEUTES.

Range of the Genus. Confined to the Indo-Malayan subregion.

Range of the Species.

1. C. pulchellus. Extends from Java and Sumatra, along the Malayan peninsula as far north as the Tenasserim Provinces and Siam, from which latter locality I have lately seen a specimen in Mr, Gould’s collection.

2. C. melanops. Only found in Borneo.

Genus 17. TANYSIPTERA.

Range of the Genus. Confined to the Australian region.

Range of the Species. 1. 7. sylvia. Inhabits New Guinea, whence it migrates into Northern Australia. 2. T. doris. Confined to Morty Island. 3. T. emilie. Represents the foregoing in Raou. 4. T. sabrina. Confined to Kaioa. 5. T'. nympha. Confined to New Guinea. | 6. 7. elliott. Confined to Mysol. | 7. TL. hydrocharis. Confined to the Aru Islands. 8. ZT’. acis. Confined to Bouru. 9. T. margarethe. Confined to Batchian and Gilolo.

10. 7. nais. Confined to Amboina and Ceram. 11. 7. galatea. Replaces 7. nais in Waigiou and New Guinea. 12. 7. riedeli. Supposed to be found in Celebes; but further confirmation is necessary.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. XXXVli

Genus 18. Cirrura.

Range of the Genus.

Restricted to Celebes and Sanghir. 1. C. cyanotis. Only found in Northern Celebes. 2. C. sanghirensis. Represents the foregoing in Sanghir, but is also found in Celebes.

Genus 19. MELIDORA.

Range of the Genus.

Found only in New Guinea; and as yet only one species is known.

Table of the Geographical Distribution of the Genus Dacelo and its allies.

Inpran Racion. i AUSTRALIAN REGION. | Indo-Malay Timor Papuan : Asia. ttokais: Celebes. Group. Moluccan Group. Group. Australia. 3| |S Blal2g) |elele fll lal bee a/8| latsis{s|2lz\a | 8/813) |S 1B) 2 |S elalstiiclalel slelaSe SSF cee SES E/ElE aI S | 2 ISSISISS le lS |S is |e ele BCR EE Alalalals|Ala| ola HERASMe ead si<eelalaualale| Dace xo. Un 1s (ETE ES each copra pees ace Heed oi eri! scst| MES rete | eae 1! AAR Bias ac] Bee lee ae Bene! oe) eel a Po aoe a * | 25, UD LE En cane SP oeneeeee| [one Bes | HAN (acs | Det (ecg Mee ONCE i ARS a OP TP oe ee el el We Pe wo] * ee a COLMANG elec as anu scan cel anelliecs Wekesllecelbiamsrieenedecel|ie=se lucee [exeleestocclseclswalcn[ecs[tccbedd/oct]Saclees] ees [eee 5 Bee pra Be PE CHAICETIORS: (sc cccsncs{'aeeillcac | cast [lseoNl(cceh scaiteoc|| itive: |) ose: [ews Beate sateat ect site| Seetaes ons tean! san |vacleselessPooeloas Bea bee BAe * See randic han diggs cose] /seei| oc |ern|ienu lesa) een fors||P een ver. feeclee «|e: Sey Bee Me ee Peal eos el Be |x| % 6. D. tyro ......ceccereeees ff ace || csi Voces (feces meer d meee ae arse Mees Rod Pol BSS noe Fon Bad Ree pod og bad BAM es MonacHALcyon. Peel. PRAHCGDE: Wavateasussedll === fices)||=*s |'Seonltoae| ses ifues * Cariponax. REM Or arcs cess <nspspestesleemil caoi|loer,|feas\|\<<si[icss|eeal| exe. f+ ano! [| CARCINEUTES. 1. C. pulchellus ............ * lx] xe] *] * Pn OsNGlANOPS).-c.<szssexs|'*=~\\Yase!|\er~.|.<a0i|/s00| 3 TANYSIPTERA. LI i ay Reals Eeule By Be ee * PA ve gel ern aa * Ps Pa i a: edlbacleat eee * 4 ra, loan 3 UA ae Pets rahe wos] * br amt YA 8 ad sfevake * 8. T. anf gy: | ae te «| * 10; 3. in sy * | * 1g, a Mes *| * ja A x? 1. CO. cyanotis * 2. C. sanghi * | * Menipora, MRED ULC Nsse one (tan) Say'Ilnas,|:s00)|'as-,|' 220 Ipe<lf wosc'f) ves, [aealusstesatend|eeafers|vss]eos]oas]oes]eas]see[ses[oee]

XXXVill GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

It will be seen that in the foregoing pages I have mainly followed Dr. Sclater’s scheme of geographical distribution, with Mr. Wallace’s subdivisions of the Indian and Australian Regions. It may, therefore, be interesting to compare the results obtained from a careful study of the geographical distribution of the Alcedinide, and to see how the facts coincide with the above-mentioned scheme, and I will place these results before my readers as con- cisely as possible.

Dividing the surface of the globe, therefore, into the two divisions, Neogwa (New World) and Palwogwa (Old World), we find that the former possesses no genus peculiar to itself, and only eight species. These latter, it is true, are distinct enough in themselves; but they all belong generically to Ceryle, a widespread form of Kingfisher in the Old World. Thus the Kingfishers of the earth may be summarized :—

Neocma. Peculiar genera, 0; peculiar species, 8.

Pat#ocaa. Peculiar genera, 18; peculiar species, 117.

Genera common to both divisions, 1, viz. Ceryle.

Species common to both divisions, 0)*.

In Neogvea we find that the genus Ceryle is thus distributed :—

Nearctic Reeion. Peculiar species, one, viz. Ceryle alcyon.

NeotropicaL Reeion. Peculiar species, six, viz. Ceryle torquata, C. stellata, C. amazonia, C. americana, C. inda, C. superciliosa.

Ceryle abcyon, in winter, ranges into Central America, while C. cabanisi, though having its maximum range in South America, ranges as far north as Texas, and therefore may be said to be common to both regions.

In Palzoga the distribution of Kingfishers will be found to be as follows :—

Patmarctic Region. Peculiar genera, 0; peculiar species, 2.

Erutorian Recion. Peculiar genera, 3; peculiar species, 24.

Inp1AN Reaion. Peculiar genus, 1; peculiar species, 25.

AUSTRALIAN Reaion. Peculiar genera, 10; peculiar species, 59.

The genera not included in the above list are—

1. Alcedo. Common to the Palearctic, Ethiopian, and Indian Regions, but entering the limits of the Australian.

2. Ceryle. Common to the Palearctic, Indian, and Ethiopian Regions, but entirely absent in the Australian,

3. Pelargopsis. An Indian genus, but having two species peculiar to the Australian region.

4. Ceyx. Found equally in the Indian Region and the Austro-Malayan subregion.

5. Halcyon. Spread over the whole of the Old World, excepting the Palearctic Region, into the limits of which it intrudes only on the south-west and north-east.

The Alcedinine peculiarities of each respective region may be analyzed as follows :—

1. Panaarctic Reaion.—No peculiar genera. Peculiar species: 1. Alcedo ispida; 2. Ceryle lugubris.

* Ceryle alcyon has once occurred in Europe, but cannot be said to be common to both the Old and New Worlds.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. XXX1X

Dr. Sclater includes Japan within the limits of his Palearctic Region, and the majority of facts confirm the correctness of this view; but the Alcedinide are decidedly Indian; for Alcedo bengalensis is a truly Indian species, and Halcyon schlegeli and Ceryle lugubris are identical with Himalayan species, excepting that they are a little larger in size.

2. EriopiaAn Recion.—Peculiar genera: 1. Corythornis; 2. Ispidina; 5. Myioceyx. Pecu- liar species: 1. Corythornis. cyanostiqgma; 2. C. galerita; 3. Ispidina picta; 4. I. leucogastra ; 5. I. natalensis; 6. Myioceyx ruficeps; 7. M. lecontei; 8. Alcedo semitorquata; 9. A. quadri- brachys; 10. Ceryle maxima; 11. C. sharpei; 12. Halcyon badia; 13. H. erythrogastra; 14. H. semicerulea; 15. H. senegaloides; 16. H. albiventris; 17. H. orientalis; 18. H. chelicutensis ; 19. H. cyanoleuca; 20. H. senegalensis; 21. H. dryas; 22. H. malimbica.

Madagascar.—Peculiar species: 1. [spidina madagascariensis; 2. Corythornis cristata.

The boundaries assigned by Dr. Sclater to this region are borne out by the distribution of its Kingfishers ; for, besides the three characteristic genera, the species of the genera Halcyon, Alcedo, and Ceryle are quite distinct from the other members of the genus. ‘Thus the Ethiopian Region contains three characteristic groups of Halcyon, one of Alcedo, and one of Ceryle. ‘There are, however, exceptions; for Halcyon badia and Alcedo quadribrachys are closely allied to Indian species, while the nearest allies to Ceryle maxima, the only charac- teristic African species of the genus, are certainly the slate-coloured species of Ceryle in South America. Again, Ceryle rudis, a common Indian species, is found all over Africa; but the influx of an Indian element into the Ethiopian region is evident, and corroborative proof is to hand in the fact that the other common Indian species, Alcedo bengalensis and Halcyon chloris, also range into North-eastern Africa, so that it is probable that by this same line of communication Ceryle rudis was introduced. As regards Madagascar, the Kingfishers confirm its affinity to the Ethiopian Region.

3. Inp1an Recion.—a. Indian and Chinese Asia. Peculiar genera, 0. Peculiar species: 1. Alcedo grandis; 2. Ceryle guttata; 3. Pelargopsis gurial; 4. P. amauroptera; 5. P. bur- manica.

b. Indo-Malayan subregion. Peculiar genus: 1. Carcineutes. Peculiar species: 1. Alcedo euryzona; 2. Pelargopsis leucocephala; 3. P. fraseri; 4. P. malaccensis; 5. Ceyx rufidorsa ; 6. C. sharpei; 7. C. dillwynni; 8. Halcyon cyanoventris; 9. H. concreta; 10. Carcineutes me- lanops; 11. C. pulchellus. ;

c. Philippines. Peculiar genera, 0. Peculiar species: 1. Alcyone cyanopectus; 2. Pelar- gopsis gouldi; 3. Ceyx melanura; 4. C. philippinensis; 5. Halcyon gularis; 6. H. lindsay? ; 7. H. hombroni.

The following species are widely distributed, and, although strictly characteristic of the Indian Region, are not confined to one or other of the subregions: 1. Ceya tridactyla ; 2. Halcyon pileata.

Beyond these are to be mentioned the following Kingfishers, which are characteristic of the Indian Region, but yet extend their range beyond its limits: 1. Alcedo bengalensis ; 2. A. asiatica; 3. A. beryllina; 4. Halcyon smyrnensis; 5. H. chloris.

The Kingfishers of the Indian Region will thus be observed to form a distinct and well-

xl GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

characterized group; for, although the genera are mostly the same as in the Palearctic and Ethiopian Regions, the species are all peculiar. No principles of division of territory as proposed by Mr. Wallace and Mr. Sclater are called in question; and we may therefore pass on to the consideration of the characteristic forms of the remaining region.

4. AUSTRALIAN Recion.—In order better to understand the geographical distribution of Kingfishers, I divide the entire region into subregions, retaining for the Malayan divisions, as nearly as possible, the lines of demarcation so well demonstrated by Mr. Wallace. It must be remembered that the limits of my own subregions are formed only on the basis of facts connected with the family Alcedinide, and may have to be modified when the entire faune of the different localities have to be considered.

a. Subregio Celebensis (Celebes, Sanghir, and the Sula Islands). Peculiar genera: 1. Ceycopsis; 2. Monachalcyon ; 3. Cittwra. Peculiar species: 1. Pelargopsis melanorhyncha ; 2. Ceyx wallacei ; 3. Ceycopsis fallax; 4. Halcyon forsteni ; 5. Monachaleyon monachus; 6. Tanysiptera riedelit; 7. Cittwra sanghirensis; 8. C. cyanotis.

b. Subregio Floresiana (Timor, Flores, Lombock). Peculiar genera: 1. Caridonaz. Peculiar species: 1. Pelargopsis floresiana; 2. Halcyon australasie ; 3. Caridonax fulgidus.

c. Subregio Moluccensis (Batchian, Kaioa, Gilolo, Ternate, Morty Island, Bouru, Ceram, -

Amboina, Goram, Matabello, Ké). Peculiar genera, 0. Peculiar species: 1. Aleyone affinis ; 2. Ceyx cajeli; 3. C. uropygialis; 4. Halcyon lazuli; 5. H. diops; 6. H. funebris; 7. Tany- siptera sabrina; 8. T. doris; 9. T. acis; 10. T. margarethe ; 11. T. nais.

d. Subregio Papuana (Aru Islands, Mysol, Waigiou, New Guinea, Cape-York Peninsula, Solomon Islands, Pelew Islands, Marianne Islands).. Peculiar genera: 1. Syma; 2. Meli- dora. Peculiar species: 1. Alcyone lessoni; 2. Ceyx solitaria; 3. Syma torotoro; 4. 8.

Jlavirostris; 5. Halcyon leucopygia; 6. H. nigrocyanea; 7. H. cinnamomina; 8. H. sordida;

9. Dacelo gaudichaudi; 10. D. tyro; 11. Tanysiptera sylvia; 12. T. nympha; 13. T. ellioti; 14. T. hydrocharis; 15. T. galatea; 16. Melidora macrorhyncha.

e. Subregio Australiana (Australia generally, Van Diemen’s Land, New Zealand, New Caledonia). Peculiar genera, 0. Peculiar species: 1. Alcyone diemenensis ; 2. A. azurea; 3. A. pulchra; 4. Halcyon macleayi; 5. H. pyrrhopygia; 6. H. vagans; 7. Dacelo gigas; 8. D. leachi; 9. D. cervina; 10. D. occidentalis.

.f. Subregio Oceanica (Polynesian Islands, eastward from the New Hebrides group). Peculiar genera: 1. Todirhamphus. Peculiar species: 1. Halcyon sacra; 2. H. julie; 3. Todirhamphus veneratus; 4. T. tutus; 5. T. recurvirostris.

The following genera and species are characteristic of the Australian Region, but are not strictly confined to one or other of the subregions. Peculiar genera: 1. Alcyone; 2. Dacelo; 3. Tanysiptera. Peculiar species: 1. Alcedo moluccensis; 2. Alcyone pusilla; 3. Ceyx lepida; 4. Halcyon albicilla.

The following species is characteristic of the Australian Region, but yet extends its range beyond the limits: 1. H. sancta.

It will be seen that the geographical distribution of Kingfishers is well illustrated by the light of the scheme of geographical distribution as propounded by Dr. Sclater; and ‘the

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. xli

various divisions of the Indo- and Austro-Malayan subregions, as proposed by Mr. Wallace, are also corroborated by the distribution of this family. Celebes is a geographical puzzle, and is remarkable for having three genera confined within its limits. Of these, Monachalcyon and Cittura are certainly allied to the Austro-Malayan forms Melidora and Tanysiptera, and indicate the affinity of the Alcedinide, while, if it is true that a Tanysiptera is found there, this will be another point of connexion with Austro-Malayana; but, on the other hand, the presence of a Pelargopsis, albeit of a different group from the Indo-Malayan members of the genus, and of Halcyon coromanda, though not absolutely identical with the typical species, forms a link of connexion with the Indo-Malayan subregion. But then there is Ceycopsis, a truly Celebesian form, and a very remarkable one too; for it is to be noticed that the two sections of the genus Ceyx, which I have called the rufous-backed section and the dlue-backed section, have distinct ranges, the one being Indo-Malayan, and the other Austro-Malayan. Yet these two groups are only sections of the genus Ceyx; the habits are the same, and the form the same, only three toes being present. The island of Celebes is the point where the two sections might be expected to join their range; but till a year or two ago no Ceycean form was known from this locality, and no true three-toed Ceyx has yet been found there. Its place is taken by the recently discovered Ceycopsis fallax, which is closely allied to Ceya, but has a tiny inner toe, and, more curious still, unites the characters of the two groups of the genus, which converge from opposite sides upon its flanks, as one may say; for it is red in general plumage, but has a bright blue back. ‘The study of the Kingfishers, therefore, does not throw much hght upon the geographical affinities of Celebes. The balance of relationship is in favour of Austro-Malayana; but still an Indian element is clearly present, while Ceycopsis bears the nearest relationship to Ceya, on the one hand, and on the other to the Ethiopian genus Jspidina as represented by Jspidina mada- gascariensis of Madagascar.

The Polynesian genus Todirhamphus is evidently a modification of a certain group of the genus Halcyon; for it is impossible not to recognize the close relationship of Todirhamphus tutus with Halcyon sacra, and T. recurvirostris with H. sancta. In plumage they are almost identical; but the flat bills of the Zodirhamphi indicate a more insectivorous diet, super- induced, no doubt, by their isolation, and consequent modification in the means of procuring food.

As regards the islands of Flores, Lombock, and Timor, the geographical distribution of Kingfishers confirms the correctness of ‘‘ Wallace’s line,” as drawn by that gentleman for the division of the Indo- and Austro-Malayan subregions; for the affinities of the King- fishers are decidedly Austro-Malayan. Halcyon australasie is closely allied to H. cinnamo- mina; and the genus Caridonax, which is peculiar to these islands, is certainly a modification of Tanysiptera; for take away the tails of the two birds, and Caridonax might be mistaken for a stout Zanysiptera. On the other hand the presence of a Pelargopsis indicates Indo- Malayan affinities; but this is to be accounted for by the narrow space which separates the two subregions, and there can be no doubt that the Pelargopsis, which is a bird of strong flight, like all piscivorous Kingfishers, could easily cross such a feeble barrier.

f

xhii CONCLUDING REMARKS.

The scheme of geographical distribution proposed by Professor Huxley (P. Z. S. 1868, p. 294) does not differ so much from that of Dr. Sclater as to invalidate any of the facts stated in the foregoing pages. Professor Huxley is doubtless right in recognizing a northern and a southern division of the globe instead of an eastern and a western, and he divides the earth into four regions, viz.: 1. Arctogea; 2. Austro-Columbia; 3. Australasia; 4. New Zealand. ‘These divisions have chiefly reference to the Alectoromorphe, which Professor Huxley was at that time discussing; but it may be interesting to study the geographical distribution of Kingfishers by the light of this paper, and see how far it coincides with the regions above indicated.

In Arctogza the extent of territory enclosed is very large, and, admitting the subdivisions proposed by Dr. Sclater, no points are seriously called in question regarding what I have stated about the geographical distribution of Kingfishers. In Notogza the line that marks the northern limit of Austro-Columbia exactly coincides with the line of demarcation that would be drawn to mark the range of the six species which I have shown to be peculiar to South America; so that on that point Iam at one with Professor Huxley. But I do not find the geographical distribution of Kingfishers coincide exactly with the limits he has drawn for his third region, of Australasia; for his line passes northward including the Nicobars, then southward round the Indo-Malayan islands, follows Wallace’s line up the Straits of Macassar, and cuts off the Philippines from the Indo-Malayan subregion. It is on this point that the Kingfishers do not entirely agree with Professor Huxley’s scheme; for all the species inhabiting the Philippines are, as I have shown, of a strictly Indian form. Beyond this, however, the geographical distribution of the Alcedinide coincides with Pro- fessor Huxley’s idea of distribution; for his fourth region, New Zealand, is not affected one way or the other. Only one species is found there closely allied to the common Australian Halcyon sancta; and it has most probably been this species which has reached New Zealand from the Australian continent, and when once settled there has, under more favourable conditions of life, assumed a larger size but less brilliant coloration, as seems to have been the case with other birds.

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

The question not unnaturally arises, “‘ What are the nearest allies of the Kingfishers?” To answer this question I must again have recourse to Mr. Wallace’s paper on the “ Natural Arrangement of Birds,” in which he comes to the conclusion that, while on the one hand the Galbulide, Bucconide, Meropide, Coraciade, Trogonide, and Prionitide are all more or less allied to the Kingfishers, on the other hand their nearest allies are the Hornbills (Bucerotide). ‘The following extract from Mr. Wallace’s essay gives his conclusions in his own words :—

From an examination of the structure of the feet and toes, and from a consideration of

CONCLUDING REMARKS. xiii

their habits, we are led to consider that the Hornbills are Fissirostral birds, though of a very abnormal form. Their very short legs and united toes, with a broad flat sole, are exactly similar to those of the Kingfishers. ‘They have powerful wings; but their heavy bodies oblige them to use much exertion in flight, which is therefore not very rapid, though often extended to considerable distances. They are (in the Indian Archipelago at least) entirely frugivorous; and it is curious to observe how their structure modifies their mode of feeding. ‘They are far too heavy to dart after the fruit, in the manner of the Trogons; they cannot even fly quickly from branch to branch, picking a fruit here and there; neither have they strength or agility enough to venture on the more slender branches, with the Pigeons and Barbets; but they alight heavily on a branch of considerable thickness, and then, looking cautiously round them, pick off any fruits that may be within their reach, and jerk them down their throats by a motion similar to that used by the Toucans, and which has been erroneously described as throwing the fruit up in the air before swallowing it. When they have gathered all within their reach they move sideways along the branch by short jumps, or, rather, a kind of shuffle (and the smaller species even hop across to other branches), when they again gather what is within their reach. When in this way they have progressed as far as the bough will safely carry them, they take a flight to another part of the tree, where they pursue the same course. It thus happens that they soon exhaust all the fruit within their reach, and long after they have left a tree the Barbets and Lurylaimi find abundance of food on the slender branches and extreme twigs. We see therefore that their very short legs and syndactyle feet remove them completely from the vicinity of the Toucans, in which the legs are actively employed in moving about after their food. ‘Their wings, too, are as powerful as those of the Toucans are weak; and it is only the great weight of their bodies that prevents them from being capable of rapid and extensive flight. As it is, their strength of wing is shown, too, by the great force with which they beat the air, producing a sound, in the larger species, which can be distinctly heard a mile off, and is even louder than that made by the flight of the great Muscovy Duck. They are still further removed from the Crows, with which they have also been very generally associated solely because they are Conirostres, or conic-beaked !—another instance of the extremely erroneous results which are arrived at by a dependence on a single character, and especially on one which so little influences the habits of a bird as the external form of its bill.

“The preceding deductions from the habits of these birds had been made before I became aware that Mr. Eyton had arrived at similar results from anatomical considerations alone ; and I had great pleasure in finding that there was such solid support for the opinion which I had formed entirely from my own observations. ‘The only question that remains then is, To what family of the Fissirostres do they most nearly approach? A careful consideration leads us to fix upon the Kingfishers. They are among the largest birds in the group; they have the largest bills; and in the structure of the feet the two are almost identical.

“The Hornbills of Africa are said to feed principally on reptiles, as do the Kinghunters (Dacelo) of Australia. We look upon Hornbills therefore as one of the abnormal develop- ments of Fissirostral birds, of which they are the largest, the least elegant, and the least

f2

xliv CONCLUDING REMARKS.

gifted with facilities for locomotion and for obtaining food ; and their nearest affinities lie in the direction of the Kingfishers.”

Moreover Professor Huxley, in his celebrated paper on the Classification of Birds (P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 415), also places the Hornbills in the same group as the Kingfishers; and thus from two opposite points of observation their affinity is allowed. I think that, keeping the peculiar habits of each family in view, we may agree entirely with Mr. Wallace in con- sidering the Bucerotide to be the nearest relations of the Alcedinide now existing. It is probable that they were once still more closely connected, and that some of the links have become extinct; but, be that as it may, I take the genera Dacelo and Melidora (which, as will be seen by the Plate of Generic Characters, is only an exaggerated form of Dacelo) to be the extreme limit of the Alcedinine type now known, and that the peculiarities of these genera point them out as more nearly allied to the Hornbills than to any other living birds. We may suppose also that they are the most ancient form of Kingfisher extant; for it is certain that Alcedo, which is one of the genera furthest removed in outward appearance from Melidora, is the most specialized type of the family Alcedinide, and therefore belongs to a more recent development. Let any one carefully examine the various forms of King- fishers in the present ‘ Monograph,’ beginning with Melidora, and he cannot but be struck with the peculiar bill exhibited by that bird—stout, broad, hooked, and formed for the capture of insects, lizards, or snakes. Then let him suddenly turn to the beginning of the work and examine Alcedo ispida. This type of Kingfisher is exactly the opposite to what he before beheld: the stout depressed beak, the hooked maxilla, and the long tail are all gone; and instead there is a bird with a long, narrow, pointed bill, and a short stumpy tail, both characters admirably adapted for the manner in which it gains its food—the pointed bill formed for cleaving the water, and the short tail to act as a rudder to guide the fisher in its downward plunge. Turning once more to Melidora we seek the links which may still be left us on the globe whereby to connect forms apparently so different, and at once we seize upon Cittwra as the nearest approach to this extreme form; for here is also seen the grooved bill, although the maxillary hook is absent. I think any one examining specimens of the genera Melidora and Cittwra will readily admit that they are closely allied ; and again we notice that the two last-named genera, along with Dacelo and Carcineutes, possess one structural character in common; and that is, a certain tendency to a small notch on the commissure near the base of the maxilla. This peculiarity is only slightly visible in Dacelo, more in Melidora and Cittura, and most in Carcineutes, forming, in this genus, a character of primary importance. ‘This fact, small as it is, serves to connect these four genera together; but while Cittwra and Melidora are certainly closely allied, and in the same way Dacelo and Carcineutes, the latter have very little else in common with the former, and though apparently modelled on the same type, the links are wanting for closer con- nexion. It will be remembered that at the outset of this Introduction I stated that the Kingfishers might be naturally divided into three subfamilies, Piscivorous, Omnivorous, and Reptilivorous Kingfishers. It is with the third or last named of these groups that we are now dealing; and besides the four genera I have mentioned, I think that three other genera

CONCLUDING REMARKS. xlv

must be included. The first of these is Tanysiptera, which embraces the most elegant and beautiful of all the known Kingfishers. The habits are thus described to me in a letter from my kind friend Mr. Wallace :—

“These birds are all inhabitants of dense thickets or forests where there is soil free from dense vegetation, from which they can pick up insects, small mollusks, or crustacea. They rest on branches three to five feet from the ground, and dart down on their prey, often with such force as to stick their bill into the ground, as shown by its being often covered with mud. ‘They are said to nest in deserted white-ants’ nests or in caves or holes in banks. In Aru T. hydrocharis was often brought me by the native boys alive. They caught them before dawn, roosting under ledges of the coralline rocks which border the forest water- streams in those islands.”

Now it is evident that among the Alcedinine genera now existing there is only one which can be compared with Tanysiptera; and that is Caridonax, which appears to me to be a direct link between the foregoing genus and certain species of Halcyon. Beyond this indication of affinity we have positively no direct characters by which to guide us as to the correct position of the genus Tanysiptera; for it differs from all other Kingfishers in having only ten tail-feathers, and having the middle pair of these feathers elongated and ornamented with a more or less distinct spatula or racket. I am therefore forced to put Tanysiptera a little apart from the direct line of affinity in the chain of genera now before us at the present day; but I consider that it has direct connexion with Caridonaz, and, of the other forms, perhaps inclines towards Cittura, the intermediate links being now missing. I have already stated that the genus Caridonax (which I would also include among the Reptilivorous Kingfishers) forms the direct link between Tanysiptera and Halcyon, the actual species most nearly approaching it being Halcyon leucopygia from the Solomon Islands. The only remaining genus of Reptilivorous Kingfishers is M/onachalcyon ; and this, as far as I can see, shows no direct affinity to any existing genus, and the only place I can assign to it is in the vicinity of Tanysiptera, to an allied form of which it may at one time possibly have been connected. Only one species of the genus is known; and the outward facies of the adult inclines somewhat to certain species of Halcyon; but the young bird (vide the Plate of the species) indicates an affinity to Tanysiptera, near which genus I have accordingly placed it. It is very probably derived from the same parent stock and, being isolated in the island of Celebes, has been modified into its present form. The second subfamily which I first proposed, was to contain those Kingfishers whose food was mixed; and the large genus Halcyon is the type of this subfamily. Todirhamphus 1 consider to be an offspring of Halcyon, whose place it supplies in the Pacific Islands: and here probably isolation has assisted to favour the tendency to variation; for while external resemblances to the plumage of Halcyon still exist, the form of beak is more depressed, showing, in my opinion, that circumstances had induced a more strictly insectivorous diet, and as the necessity for the long thin beak of the fisher diminished, that organ became more and more modified as the primary object of its employment vanished, till at last it became depressed and flat as the bird became gradually more a feeder on insects. Syma,

xvi CONCLUDING REMARKS.

also, I take to be a modification of Halcyon. With this genus we arrive at the end of the long-tailed Dacelonine ; for the remaining genera belonging to this subfamily are strictly Alcedinine in form (that is to say, appear to be modelled on the same type as the true Kingfishers), but yet by their habits belong to the insectivorous section of the family.

These genera are four in number—namely, Ceyx, Ceycopsis, Ispidina, and Myioceyz.

a 4

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1 oie

They are all closely connected, inter se; and the link towards Halcyon seems to be in the lilac-backed section of the genus Ceya with the lilac-backed section of the genus Halcyon, where the tail is rather shorter than in most of the other members of the genus. Myioceyx I consider to be a modification of Jspidina, the difference in form of bill showing a peculiar adaptation to insect food. Unfortunately the two species of this genus are only represented by three specimens in the whole of the Museums in the world, so that nothing is known of their habits. I have already (anted, p. vii.) enlarged upon what I consider to be the links of connexion between the subfamily Alcedininw and Dacelonine, so that, as these conclusions carry us directly from Ceya and Ispidina direct to Aleyone and Corythornis, and thence to Alcedo, we have only two genera left, namely Ceryle and Pelargopsis. These two stand

CONCLUDING REMARKS. xlvii

apart from any other Kingfisher, but, by reason of their fishing-propensities and structure, apparently belong to the Alcedinine, of which they are the most aberrant forms.

If we endeavour to draw a phylum whereby the affinities of the Kingfishers may be resolved, it would, I believe, take somewhat of the form opposite.

A better idea may perhaps be gained by the accompanying map, which gives what I conceive to be a fair idea of the affinities of the Kingfishers at present existing. The nearest allies are several; and it is possible that a close study of each of the families Coraciade, Trogonide, Momotide, Galbulide, Bucconide, Meropide, and Bucerotide would give us data by which a clearer idea of the Fissirostral group of the Coccygomorphe might be obtained; and when that is done, it is possible that many of the conclusions deduced from a study of the Kingfishers alone may have to be modified.

Lastly, there is one point to which I wish to draw attention; and that is the distribution of the two subfamilies; for it will at once be noticed that the Insectivorous Kingfishers have their greatest development in the Austro-Malayan subregion, while the piscivorous King- fishers are found all over the globe, except Oceania. It is a moot question whether I am right in supposing the Bucerotide to be the nearest allies of the Alcedinide ; but certain it is that the gradation of Kingfishers from the extreme development of piscivorous characters to the extreme form of Reptilivorous Dacelo is very gradual, even in the remains of the family now before our eyes; and the modification in the form of bill is also very plain, this organ being gradually more and more compressed as the genera become more piscivorous ; and if the insect-eaters are the oldest Kingfishers, we must assume that these peculiar forms were still highly developed at a very early epoch, and that from this origin a gradual modified type spread itself over the other regions. Only in the same way that Professor Huxley accounts for the distribution of Psittaculew, can the distribution of Ceryle be accounted for, and its isolated presence in the New World be explained, while the distrn- bution of Alcedo might also be accounted for by some such conclusion. It is, however, to wiser heads than mine that I leave the consideration of such matters. I have set before them to the best of my ability the facts connected with the Alcedinide as they exist at the present day, and I trust that some facts have transpired in the present work to conduce to the advancement of my favourite science, while for the shortcomings of the author I crave the leniency of the critic.

DESCRIPTION

OF THE

PLATE OF GENERIC CHARACTERS.

Fig. 1. Head of Alcedo ispida.

la. Foot of Alcedo ispida.

2. Head of Corythornis cyanostigma. 3. Foot of Alcyone affinis.

4. Head of Ceyx lepida.

4a. Foot of Ceyx lepida.

5. Head of Ceycopsis fallax.

5a. Foot of Ceycopsis fallax.

6. Head of Myioceyx ruficeps.

6a. Beak of Myioceyx ruficeps.

6b. Foot of Myioceyx ruficeps.

7. Head of Lspidina picta.

7a. Foot of Lspidina picta.

8. Head of Syma flavirostris.

9. Head of Halcyon senegalensis.

9a. Foot of Halcyon senegalensis. 10. Head of Todirhamphus veneratus. 10 a. Foot of Todirhamphus veneratus. 11. Top view of skull of Ceryle alcyon. 12. Top view of skull of Pelargopsis fraseri. 18. Head of Monachalcyon monachus. 14. Head of Caridonax fulgidus. 15. Head of Carcineutes pulchellus. 16. Head of Cittura cyanotis. 17. Head of Melidora macrorhina. 18. Head of Dacelo leachi. 19. Tail of Tanysiptera galatea.

GENERIC CHARACTERS or ALCEDINIDA

PUT Ee ere Ee

I HAVE been induced to go rather fully into the subject of the works examined in connexion with the present Monograph, under the impression that a literary history of the Alcedinide will be of use to the future student of the family. I have had the advan- tage of the Zoological Society’s Library at my command; and I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude for the facilities afforded me by Dr. Sclater and the Council for pursuing my studies while in their service. In order to render the treatment of the subject more plain, I have adopted the method of the characterization of ornithological detail perfected by my friends Professor Newton and Dr. Hartlaub in their Zoological Records.

Linnzvs, C. Systema Nature, tom. i. 8vo, 1766, p. 178.

The genus Alcedo is described. The following species are included :—

1. Alcedo cristata; 2. A. inda; 3. A. ispida; 4. A. erithaca; 5. A. madagascariensis; 6. A. superciliosa; 7. A. aleyon; 8. A. torquata; 9. A. capensis; 10. A. senegalensis; 11. A. smyrnensis; 12. A. rudis; 13. A. dea; 14. A. paradisea; 15. A. galbula.

Of these, A. erithaca and A. dea (ex Briss. and Seba) are not determinable, while A. paradisea and A. galbula are not Kingfishers, but Jacamars (Galbulide). All the others are recognizable at the present day.

VosmMaER, A. Beschryving van twee zeer fraaie, Kortstaartige Oost-Indische Ys-Vogeltjes, 4to, 1768. A plate of these two Kingfishers is given, showing them to be Ceyx tridactyla as and Ceyx rufidorsa, Strickl.

Pautuas, P. S. Spicilegia Zoologica, Fasc. 6, 4to, 1769. Alcedo tridactyla is a new species. Alcedo maxima is a new species from the Cape of Good Hope.

Lata, Dr. J. General Synopsis of Birds, vol. ii. 4to, 1772, p. 607.

The author enumerates the following species, to which, however, he does not apply Latin appellations. Those in italics not determinable :—

1. Great Brown Kingfisher (ex Sonn.). 2. Cape Kingfisher (A. capensis, Linn.). 3. Great African Kingfisher (4. maxima, Pall.), cum var. A (ex Buff. Pl. Enl. 679=Ceryle maaima (Pall.)). 4. Black and White Kingfisher (A. rudis, L.). 5. Egyptian Kingfisher (ex Hasselq. It. p. 245). 6. New Guinea Kingfisher (ex Sonn. Voy. p. 171, t. 107).

7. Smyrna Kingfisher (A. smyrnensis, L.), cum var. A, Great Gambia Kingfisher. Latham

g

l LITERATURE.

takes his English names from a plate of Edwards (vol. i. pl. 8). On turning to this bird I find that it is not a recognizable species. It would do for Pelargopsis amauroptera, but for the fact of the black depicted on the wing. It looks like a manufactured bird, made up of the above-mentioned Pelargopsis with the body of some African species, perhaps H. senega- lensis or H. dryas. Latham refers as a synonym of this bird to the Grand Martin-pécheur de Madagascar of Buffon (Pl. Enl. 232). This, however, is a good species, and bears the name of Halcyon gularis (Kuhl); var. B of his Smyrna Kingfisher (from Albin’s marvellous figure, vol. iii. pl. 28) is the true H. smyrnensis.

8. White-headed Kingfisher (ex Buff. Ois. vii. p. 190). 9. Crab-eating Kingfisher (ex Buff. Ois. vii. p. 183); (a) var. A (ex Linn. S. N. i. p. 180)=H. senegalensis (L.); (6) var. B ex ins. St. Jago=WH. erythrogastra (Temm.); (c) var. C (ex Buff. Ois. vii. p. 194)=H. semi- caerulea (Forsk.). 10. White-collared Kingfisher. 11. Green-headed Kingfisher, “ Bouru ” (ex Buff. Ois. vii. p. 190). 12. Sacred Kingfisher (descr. orig.), ex ins. Soc.; cum var. A= H. sacra (Gm.), ad.; var. B (pl. xxvii.), “ Ulietea” (=H. sancta, V. & H.); var. C, “New Zealand "=H. vagans (Less.); var. D, ex Sonn. Voy. p. 67, t. 33,=H. chloris (Bodd.). 13. Venerated Kingfisher, “‘ Apye” (descr. orig.). 14. Respected Kingfisher (descr. orig.). 15. Black-capped Kingfisher (ex Buff. Ois. vii. p. 189); var. A, ex Sonn. Voy. p. 65, t. 31,= H. albiventris (Scop.). 16. Common Kingfisher (A. ispida, L.), var. A, Le Martin Pescheur du Senegal, Briss. Orn. iv. p. 485, no. 7. pl. 39. fig. 1. 17. Red-headed Kingfisher (A. erithaca, L.); var. A=Ceya tridactyla. 18. Purple Kingfisher. 19. Rufous Kingfisher (A. madagascariensis, L.). 20. Blue-headed Kingfisher (ex Buff. Ois. vii. p. 198). 21. Indian Kingfisher (ex Buff. Ois. vii. p. 201). 22. Crested Kingfisher (A. cristata, L.); var. A, ex Seba (=Corythornis cyanostigma (Riipp.). 23. Eastern Kingfisher (ex Brisson). 24. Ternate Kingfisher (A. dea, L.). 25. Cayenne Kingfisher (ex Brisson). 26. Cinereous King- fisher (A. torquata, L.). 27. Belted Kingfisher, var. A; var. B=A. alcyon, L.; var. C is indeterminable. 28. Brazilian Spotted Kingfisher. 29. Rufous and Green Kingfisher (ex Buff. Ois. vii. p. 215)=Ceryle inda (L.). 30. White and Green Kingfisher, “ Cayenne,”= Ceryle americana (Gm.). 31. Brazilian Kingfisher (ex Brisson). 32. Spotted Kingfisher {ex Edwards, pl. 335)=Ceryle inda (L.). 33. Surinam Kingfisher (ex Fermin, Voy. Surin. ii. p. 181)= Ceryle inda (L.). 34. Supercilious Kingfisher (A. superciliosa, L.). 35. White- billed Kingfisher (ex Seba). 36. Three-toed Kingfisher.

Forskat, P. Descriptiones Animalium, ed. Niebuhr, 4to, 1778 (p. 2). Alcedo semicerulea is described as a new species from Yemen, in Arabia.

Miter, P. L. S. Linné vollstiindiges Natursystem, &c., 8vo, 1776.

Alcedo rubra is the name assigned to the bird figured by Vosmaer (Nat. Besch. Vog. pl. 3). It is a Galbula. Alcedo galerita is the name given to the bird figured by Buffon (Pl. Enl. 356. fig. 1).

This name stands.

Alcedo leucocephala is the name given to the bird figured by Buffon (Pl. Enl. 356. fig. 2). It is the Alcedo semicwrulea of Forskal.

LITERATURE. li

Alcedo aurea is the name given to the bird figured by Vosmaer (Nat. Besch. Vog. pl. 2). It is a Galbula.

Bopparrt, P. Table des Planches Enluminéez d’Histoire Naturelle de M. Daubenton: folio. Utrecht, 1783.

In this work, which is extremely rare, names are given to Buffon’s plates.

Alcedo gigas (p. 40) is a new species (ex Buff. pl. 663).

Alcedo fusca (p. 54) is a new species (ex Buff. pl. 894).

Alcedo pileata (p. 41) is a new species (ex Buff. pl. 673).

Alcedo guttata (p. 42) is a new species (ex Buff. pl. 679).

Alcedo rubra (p. 48) is a new species (ex Buff. pl. 778. fig. 2).

Todus pictus (p. 49) is a new species (ex Buff. pl. 783. fig. 1).

Alcedo chloris (p. 49) is a new species (ex Buff. pl. 783. fig. 2).

Alcedo javana (p. 47) is a new species (ex Buff. pl. 757).

Alcedo nigra (p. 22) is a new species (ex Buff. pl. 756. fig. 1). This name must surely have been a misprint.

Alcedo viridirufa (p. 36) is a new species (ex Buff. pl. 592).

Scopout, J. A. Delicie Flore et Faune Insubrice, Pars 2, folio. Ticini, 1786. Latin titles are given to the birds described by Sonnerat in his ‘ Voyages.’ They are as follows :— Alcedo coromandeliana, Scop. (ex Sonn. Voy. Ind. ii. p. 212, pl. 118)=Merops coromandus (Lath.). Alcedo albiventris, Scop. (ex Sonn. Voy. N. Guin. p. 64, pl. 31)= Halcyon albiventris (Scop.). Alcedo tridactyla, Scop. (ex Sonn. Voy. N. Guin. p. 66, pl. 832)=Ceyxr tridactyla (Pall.)? Alcedo collaris, Scop. (ex Sonn. Voy. N. Guin. p. 67, pl. 33)=Halcyon chloris (Bodd.). Alcedo undulata, Scop. (ex Sonn. Voy. N. Guin. p. 170, pl. 106)=Dacelo gigas (Bodd.).

Gue.in, O. F. Linnei Systema Nature, tom. i. 8vo, 1788 (p. 447). In this work all the Linnean species are enumerated, and titles given to Latham’s species

described in the ‘ General Synopsis.’

Alcedo orientalis is the name proposed for Latham’s “‘ Eastern Kingfisher.” This bird I cannot determine.

Alcedo surinamensis is proposed for Latham’s “ Surinam Kingfisher.” It is Alcedo inda, L.

Alcedo purpurea (ex Latham’s “ Purple Kingfisher”)= Alcedo tridactyla, Pall.

Alcedo cwruleocephala (ex Latham’s “ Blue-headed Kingfisher”)=Alcedo galerita, Mill.

Alcedo bengalensis is a new species founded on Latham’s “ Indian Kingfisher.”

Alcedo leucorhyncha (ex Latham’s “ White-billed Kingfisher”). Indeterminable.

Alcedo brasiliensis (ex Latham’s “ Brazilian Kingfisher”). Indeterminable.

Alcedo americana is a new species founded on the “ White and Green Kingfisher” of Latham.

Alcedo bicolor (ex Latham’s “ Rufous and Green Kingfisher” )=Alcedo inda (L.).

q 2

lil LITERATURE.

Alcedo maculata (ex Latham’s “ Brazilian Spotted Kingfisher”) is not recognizable.

Alcedo cayennensis (ex Latham’s “‘ Cayenne Kingfisher”). Not distinguishable.

Alcedo atricapilla (ex Latham’s “ Black-capped Kingfisher”)=A. pileata, Bodd.

Alcedo atricapilla, var. 8 (ex Sonnerat)= A. albiventris (Scop.).

Alcedo venerata is a new species founded on Latham’s “ Venerated Kingfisher.”

Aleedo sacra is a new species founded on Latham’s “ Sacred Kingfisher.”

Alcedo sacra, var. 3, is the adult A. sacra.

Alcedo sacra, var. y (ex Latham’s “ Sacred Kingfisher,” var. B)=H. sancta, V. & H.

Alcedo sacra, var. 8 (ex Latham’s “Sacred Kingfisher,” var. C)=H. vagans, Gray.

Alcedo sacra, var. e (ex Sonn. Voy. N. Guin. p. 67, pl. 33)=A. chloris, Bodd.

Alcedo chlorocephala (ex Latham’s “‘ Green-headed Kingfisher”)= A. chloris, Bodd.

Alcedo coerulea (ex Latham’s “‘ White-collared Kingfisher”). Indeterminable with cer- tainty.

Alcedo fusca (ex Latham’s “ Great Brown Kingfisher”)= Alcedo gigas, Bodd.

Alcedo maxima (ex Latham’s “‘ Great African Kingfisher ”)=Alcedo maxima, Pall.

Alcedo maxima, var. B=Ceryle maxima (Pall.).

Alcedo leucocephala is a new species. It is Latham’s “ White-headed Kingfisher.”

Alcedo flavicans is described for the first time. The subject of the description (though the fact is not acknowledged) is the bird called Ten-rou-joulon by the natives of Celebes (cf. Buff. Ois. vii. p. 191). The whole story appears a fabrication.

Alcedo nove quince (ex Latham’s “ New Guinea Kingfisher”). Indeterminable.

Alcedo wegyptiaca (ex Latham’s “ Egyptian Kingfisher”). Indeterminable.

Alcedo grandis (ex Latham’s “ Great Jacamar”) is a Galbula.

LatuAM, Dr. Index Ornithologicus, 4to, 1790 (p. 245).

In this volume the author brings the synopsis of the Kingfishers down to the time of writing, and here he first assigns Latin appellations. For most of the birds, however, described by him in the ‘General Synopsis’ Gmelin had already given names, which are allowed by Latham in the present ‘Index.’ I shall therefore only give the few titles which are here assigned for the first time.

Alcedo gigantea (ex “ Great Brown Kingfisher” of the ‘General Synopsis’)=Alcedo gigas, Bodd.

Alcedo cancrophaga (‘* Crab-eating Kingfisher”). Indeterminable.

Alcedo coromanda is the name proposed for Sonnerat’s Martin-Pécheur violet de la cote de Coromandel.

Alcedo amazonia is the name proposed for the “ Amazonian Kingfisher” (Lath. Suppl. to Syn. p. 116).

Suaw and Nopper. Vivarium Nature, or ‘The Naturalist’s Miscellany,’ 24 vols. 8vo. 1790-18138. Alcedo cristata is figured (vol. i. pl. 15). Alcedo ispida is figured (vol. iv. pl. 129).

LITERATURE. hii

Alcedo? pusilla is figured (vol. v. pl. 159), =Ispidina picta.

Alcedo cerulea is figured (vol. viii. pl. 269). Indeterminable.

Alcedo erithaca is figured (vol. ix. pl. 317). Apparently Ceyx tridactyla, but is repre- sented with four toes.

Alcedo atricapilia is figured (vol. xii. pl. 265).

Alcedo chlorocephala is figured (vol. xiii. pl. 525).

Alcedo tribrachys is figured (vol. xvi. pl. 681).

Alcedo leucocephala is figured (vol. xix. pl. 793).

Alcedo smyrnensis is figured (vol. xix. pl. 825).

Alcedo inda is figured (vol. xxi. pl. 889).

Alcedo ultramarina is figured (vol. xxi. pl. 901).

The scientific value of this work is very small, as all the figures and descriptions are taken from the works of Buffon, Albin, Edwards, &c.

LatuaM, H. Supplement II. to the General Synopsis of Birds, 1801 (p. xxxii). Alcedo azurea is the name proposed for the “‘ Azure Kingfisher” (Lath. Syn. Suppl. p. 372).

Lac&pEpe. Mémoires de |’Institut, 1801, p. 511. The genus Ceyx is founded.

Davpin, F. M. Description d'un Guépier et d'un Martin-pécheur d’Afrique (Ann. Mus. d’Hist. Nat. ii. p. 440, 1803). Alcedo ultramarina is a new species. It is Jspidina picta (Bodd.).

Bren, C. L. Handbuch der Naturgeschichte aller Vogel Deutschlands, 8vo. Ilmenau, 1811. Alcedo subispida (p. 149) and A. advena (p. 150) are described as distinct from A. ispida.

Suaw, Dr. G. General Zoology, vol. viii. part 1, Aves, 8vo, 1812 (p. 52). All the names of the previous writers are introduced, the new ones proposed being :— Alcedo afra= Alcedo maxima, Pall., as is admitted by the author. Alcedo malimbica (ex Le Martin-pécheur de Malimbe of Sonnini) is described. Alcedo javanica (ex Buff. Pl. Enl. 757)=Pelargopsis leucocephala (Gm.). Alcedo capistrata (ex Latham’s “ White-collared Kingfisher”). Indeterminable. Alcedo tribrachys=Alcedo azurea, Lath.

Sranuey, Lord. Appendix to Salt’s Travels in Abyssinia, 1814. Halcyon chelicuti is a new species (p. lvi).

Leacu, W. E. Zoological Miscellany, 8vo, vol. ii. 1815 (p. 125). Dacelo is a new genus. The type is the Alcedo gigantea of Lath. (Alcedo gigas, Bodd.).

Vieitt0t, J. P. Nouveau Dictionnaire d’Histoire Naturelle, tome xx., 1818 (p. 394). Alcedo carulescens is a new species from Timor.

liv LITERATURE.

Alcedo cyanoleuca is a new species from Angola.

Alcedo cinereifrons is a new species from Malimba. It is A. malimbica of Shaw.

Alcedo rubescens is a new species from Paraguay (ex Azara). It is Alcedo americana of Latham.

Alcedo nutans is a new species from Malimba. It is Alcedo picta of Boddaert.

Alcedo cyanoventris is a new species from Java.

Alcedo viridis is a new species from Paraguay. It is Alcedo americana of Gmelin.

Alcedo beryllina is a new species from Java. It is A. cwrulescens (supra).

Alcedo australasia is a new species from ‘‘ Australasia.”

Kua, H. Buffoni et Daubentoni figurarum Avium coloratarum nomina systematica, ed. Th. van Swinderen. 4to. Groninge, 1820 (p. 4). Alcedo gularis is a new species (ex Pl. Enl. 232).

Dumont. Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles, xxix. p. 472 (c. 1820). Alcedo vestita, “ Cuv.” is a new species. It is Ceryle amazonia (Lath.). Alcedo ruficeps, “ Cuy.” is a new species. It is H. cinnamomina, Sw.

Swainson, W. Zoological Illustrations, vol. i. (1820-21). Alcedo asiatica is a new species from Java. Alcedo azurea is figured (plate 26). Halcyon is a new genus; type H. senegalensis (L.). Halcyon collaris is figured (plate 27).

Zoological Illustrations, vol. ii. (1821-22). Halcyon cinnamominus is a new species from “ New Zealand.” It is figured (plate 1).

—-. Zoological ustrations, vol. iii. (1822-23).

Alcedo semitorquata is a new species from the Fish River, Cape Colony. It is figured (plate 26).

HorsrigtD, Dr. Tos. Systematic Arrangement and Description of Birds from the Island of Java (Linn. Trans. xiii. p. 133, 1822).

Alcedo meninting (p. 172) is a new species, = Alcedo asiatica, Swains.

Alcedo biru (p. 172) is a new species, = Alcedo cerulescens, Vieill.

Entomothera (p. 173) is a new genus, formed for the reception of Kingfishers intermediate between Alcedo and Dacelo. The type is Alcedo coromanda (Lath.).

Alcedo melanoptera (p. 174) is a new species, = Halcyon cyanoventris (Vieill.).

Dacelo pulchella (p. 176) is a new species.

LiciitenstEIN, Dr. H. Verzeichniss der Doubletten des Zoologischen Museums: small 4to. Berlin, 1823.

Alcedo striolata is a new species from Senegambia. It is the same as Alcedo chelicuti of Stanley, from Abyssinia.

LITERATURE. ly

BonnaTERRE et ViEmLLoT. Tableau Encyclopédique et Méthodique des trois Régnes de la Nature—Onnithologie, 1** partie, 4to, 1823 (p. 281).

A complete compilation, the only new species described being :-—

Alcedo cinerea (p. 286)=Alcedo torquata, L.

Alcedo taparara (p. 293). “La Guyane, Cayenne.” Indeterminable, but not an American Kingfisher.

Alcedo cyanea (p. 395, ex Azara)=Alcedo torquata, L.

Alcedo variegata= Alcedo chelicuti, Stanl.

Alcedo tricolor. Indeterminable.

Temmince, C. J. Nouveau Receuil de Planches coloriées d’Oiseaux, vol. iv. folio, 1823- 1836.

Thanks to the pains taken by Mr. Crotch (Ibis, 1868, p. 500), we are now acquainted with the dates at which the livraisons of this work were issued. Although some of the Kingfishers were described as early as 1823, they do not seem to have been known to Bonnaterre and Vieillot; nor do these authors appear to have been acquainted with the present work.

Ceyx lepida is a new species from Amboina.

Ceyx solitaria is a new species from the Bay of Lobo, in New Guinea.

Ceyx pusilla is a new species from the same locality.

Figures of all three species are given.

Alcedo lugubris is a new species from Japan, of which a figure is given.

Alcedo biru and Alcedo meninting are figured.

Alcedo melanorhyncha is a new species from Celebes: a figure is given.

Alcedo omnicolor is a new species described and figured for the first time under the above MS. name proposed by Reinwardt. It is Halcyon cyanoventris (V.).

Alcedo diops is a new species from ‘‘ Amboina, Timor, and Celebes.’ All these localities are erroneous.

Alcedo lazuli is a new species from “ Sumatra.” ‘The locality is erroneous. Figures’ of both species are given.

Alcedo euryzonia (err. eryzona) is a new species described, but not figured, from Java.

Dacelo cyanotis is a new species from “Sumatra.” The locality is erroneous.

Dacelo concreta is a new species from Sumatra.

Dacelo pulchella, Horsf., is figured.

Dacelo buccoides is a new species from “ Java and Sumatra.” It is the female Dacelo pulchellus (Horsf.).

Figures of all the above-mentioned birds are given.

Quoy et Gaimarp. Voyage autour du Monde, éxecuté sur les corvettes l’Uranie et la Phy sicienne, Zoologie: 4to. Paris, 1824. Dacelo gaudichaud is a new species from the Papuan Islands (Planche 15).

lvi LITERATURE.

Srepuens, J. F. General Zoology, commenced by the late George Shaw, M.D., &c. Vol. xiii. part 2, Aves: 8vo. 1825. A yery fair résumé of the species of Kingfishers, those of Swainson and Temminck described up to the present date being included. Ceyx luzoniensis is the name proposed for Shaw's Alcedo tridactyla. It is the true Ceyr tridactyla (Pall.).

Vieittot, L. P. Galerie des Oiseaux, 4to, vol. i. Paris, 1820. Alcedo cinereifrons is figured (pl. 187). Alcedo gigantea is figured (pl. 188).

Jarpive, Sir W., and Sexsy, P. J. Illustrations of Ornithology, 4 vols. 4to. 1825-1839. Ceyx azurea is figured (pl. 55. fig. 1). Ceyx tridactyla is figured (pl. 55. fig. 2). This is the true C. rujidorsa, Strickl. Halcyon sanctus, ad. et juv., are figured (pls. 96, 97). Halcyon macleayi is a new species, figured (pls. 100, 101).

Riprett, E. Atlas zu der Reise im nérdlichen Afrika. Voégel bearb. von Dr. Ch. Cretz- schmar. Folio. Frankfurt a. Main, 1826. Dacelo pygmea, Cretzsch., is a new species from Kordofan and Eastern Abyssinia. It is the Alcedo chelicuti of Stanley.

Lesson, R. P. Voyage autour du Monde sur la Corvette ‘La Coquille.’ Zuologie, vol. i. 4to. Paris, 1826 (p. 684). Syma is a new genus. The type is Syma torotoro, sp. n., from New Guinea. Dacelo macrorhinus is a new species from New Guinea. Alcedo vagans is a new species from New Zealand.

Vicors, N. A., and HorsrreLp, Tuos. Description of the Australian Birds in the Collection of the Linnean Society. (Trans. Linn. Soc. xv. p. 170, 1827.) “ Dacelo leachii, Lath. MSS.,” is described as a new species for the first time. Halcyon sanctus is a new species.

Lesson, R. P. Sur le genre Todirhamphus. (Mém. Soc. d’Hist. Nat. Paris, iii. p. 11, 1828.)

The full description of the genus is given. The type is 7. divinus, Less., =T. veneratus (Lath.). This and 7. tutus compose the known members of the genus.

Bor, F. Bemerkungen iiber mehrere neue Vogelgattungen. (Isis, 1828, p. 312.) The genus Ceryle is founded. The type is C. rudis.

Vicors, N. A. On Birds from the Himalayan Mountains. (P. Z.S. 1830, p. 22.) Alcedo guttatus is a new species.

LITERATURE. lvii

Vigors, N. A. On a Collection of Birds from Manilla, presented by H. H. Lindsay, Esq. (P. Z. S. 1830-31, p. 97.) , Dacelo lindsayi is a new species. Dacelo lessonii is a new species. It is the young of the former bird.

Smitu, Dr. A. Contributions to the Natural History of South Africa. (S. Afr. Quart. Journ. no. 5, p. 14, 1831.)

Alcedo natalensis is a new species.

Lesson, R. P. Traité d’Ornithologie. 8vo. Paris, 1831 (p. 240).

Dacelo actwon is a new species. It is Halcyon erythrogastra.

Choucalcyon is a new genus. The type is Dacelo gaudichaudi.

Melidora is a new genus. The type is Dacelo macrorhinus of Lesson, for which the name of Melidora euphrasie is now proposed.

Kurriitz, F. H. von. Kupfertafeln zur Naturgeschichte der Vogel. 8vo. Frankfurt am Main, 1832. Alcedo collaris is figured (t. 14. fig. 1). Alcedo rujirostris is figured (t. 14. fig. 2). Alcedo ispida is figured (t. 29. fig. 1). Alcedo bengalensis is figured (t. 29. fig. 2). Alcedo cristata (auct. nec Linn.) is figured (t. 29. fig. 3).

Lesson. Centurie Zoologique. 4to. Paris, 1832 (p. 36). Halcyon atricapilla is figured, and is called Alcedo brama on the plate.

Govtp, Jony. Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains. Folio. 1832. Alcedo guttatus is figured.

LarresNAye. Le Martin-chasseur a coiffe brune. (Mag. de Zool. 1833, pl. 18.) Dacelo fuscicapilla is a new species. It is the Alcedo albiventris of Scopoli.

Meyen, F. J. F. Observationes Zoologicee. (Nov. Act. Acad. Ces. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. Band xvi. Suppl. 1, 1834.) Alcedo stellata (pl. xiv.) is a new species from Chili.

Pearson, J. T. Catalogue of Birds in the Museum of the Asiatic Society. (J. A.S. B. x. 1835, p. 628.) Halcyon amauroptera is a new species. Halcyon gurial is a new species.

Riprett, Dr. E. Neue Wirbelthiere zu der Fauna von Abyssinien geho6rig—Vogel. Folio. Frankfurt am Main, 1835. Alcedo semicerulea, Forsk., is figured. Alcedo cyanostigma is a new species.

lvili LITERATURE.

Smitn, Dr. ANDREW. On South-African Birds, &c. (S. Afr. Quart. Journ. 1836, p. 143.) Halcyon swainsonii is a new species. Halcyon senegaloides is a new species. (Figured, Ill. Zool. S. Afr. pl. 68.)

Texmunck, C. J. Tableau Méthodique. Folio. Paris, 1836. Alcedo melanoptera is a new species (nec Horsf.). It is A. gularis of Kuhl (p. 79). Alcedo erythrogaster is a new species from St. Jago (p. 79).

Bonaparte, C. L. On Mexican Birds. (P. Z.S. 1837, p. 108.) Ceryle torquata is described as a new species. (This must be in error, as it is the Alcedo torquata of Linnzus; but the statement “Ceryle torquata, nob.,” is distinct enough in type.)

Govup, J. On New Australian Birds. (P. Z.S. 1837, p. 142.) Halcyon incinctus is a new species, closely allied to Halcyon macleayii. (Afterwards recognized as the female of that species.)

Burton, StaffSurgeon. On New Birds from the Collection at Fort Pitt, Chatham. (P. Z.S. 1837, p. 89.) Ceyx microsoma is a new species. It is Ceya tridactyla (Pall.)

Swatysoy, W. Natural History and Classification of Birds (Cabinet Cycl.), vol. 1. (1837) p-. 334. Syma lessonia is the name proposed for S. ¢orotoro, Less., the reason for the change not being given. Alcyone is a new genus. ‘The type is A. australis, Sw., =Alcyone azurea (Lath.). Halcyon rufirostris is named from Buffon’s 232nd plate. It is H. gularis (Kuhl).

Swaiyson, W. Birds of West Africa, vol. ii. 12mo. 1837 (p. 93).

Ispida gigantea is a new species. It is the Alcedo maxima of Pallas. A figure is given (pl. 2); but the back, which is described as “spotted with white,” is not thus depicted in the plate.

Ispida bicincta is a new species. It is the Ceryle rudis (L.).

Halcyon torquatus is a new species. It is the Alcedo malimbica of Shaw.

Ilalcyon rufiventer is a new species, but is not distinct from the Abyssinian 1. semicwrulea.

Halcyon cyanotis is a new species. It is Ispidina picta (Bodd.).

GovuLp, J. On the Fissirostres collected by Mr. Darwin. (P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 22.) Halcyon erythrorhynchus is a new species from the Island of St. Jago. (It is the H. ery- throgastra of Temminck.)

LAFRESNAYE. Oiseaux nouveaux. (Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 224.) Dacelo ruffulus is a new species. It is the Alcedo madagascariensis of Linneus.

Mituer, 8S. Verhandelingen over de Naturlijke Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche oberzeesche bezittingen—Land- en Volkenkunde. Folio. Leiden, 1839-44. Halcyon coronatus is a new species (p. 175).

LITERATURE. lix

Eyton, T. C. Catalogue of a Collection of Birds from Malaya. (P. Z. S. 1839, p. 101.) Halcyon varia is a new species. It is the young of Halcyon concreta, Temm.

Jerpon, T.C. Catalogue of the Birds of SouthernIndia. (Madr. Journ. Lit. & Sci. 1839-44.) Halcyon brunniceps is a new species. It is Pelargopsis gurial (Pears.).

Govu.p, J. On new Birds from Australia. (P.Z.S. 1840, p. 113.) Halcyon pyrrhopygia is a new species.

LAFRESNAYE, Baron DE. Sur une nouvelle espéce du genre Ceyz. (Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 33.) Ceyx cyanopectus is a new species.

Gray, G. R. Remarks on a Specimen of Kingfisher, supposed to form a new species of the genus Tanysiptera. (Ann. Nat. Hist. 1841, p. 257.) Tanysiptera nympha is a new species.

Homeron et Jacquinor. Description de plusieurs oiseaux nouveaux ou peu connus, pro- venant de lexpédition autour du monde faite sur les corvettes ‘L’Astrolabe’ et ‘La Zélée.’ (Ann. Sci. Nat. n.s. xvi. p. 315, 1841.)

A bird is described from the Tonga Islands as Alcedo diophthalmo-rufo-ventro (!) It is

H. macleayii, the locality being doubtless erroneous.

SrrickLanp, H. E. Commentary on Mr. G. R. Gray’s ‘Genera of Birds. (Ann. Nat. Hist. vi. p. 410, 1841.) Ceryle varia is a new species.

Fraser, L. Zoologia typica. Folio. 1841-42. Alcedo leucogaster, Fraser, is figured.

LarresNayE. Descriptions de quelques Oiseaux nouveaux. (Rev. Zool. 1842, p. 134.) Todirhamphus recurvirostris is a new species.

Govup, J. On new Australian Halcyonide. (P.Z.8. 1842, p. 72.)

Halcyon platyrostris is a new species from the Navigators’ Islands. It is the same as Halcyon recurvirostris from the Navigators’ Islands.

Halcyon sordidus is a new species from the north coast of Australia.

Fraser, L. On new Species of Birds from Fernando Po. (P. Z.S. 1843, p. 4.) Halcyon leucogastra is a new species. It is an Lspidina.

Goutp, J. Onnew Species of Birds collected during the recent Voyage of H.M.S. ‘ Sulphur.’

(P. Z. S. 1843, p. 103.) Halcyon saurophaga is a new species from New Guinea. It is Halcyon albicilla, Less.

Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. ‘Sulphur’—Birds. Royal 4to. 1844.

Halcyon saurophaga is figured. h2

lx LITERATURE.

Forster, J. R. Descriptiones Animalium, curante H. Lichtenstein. 8vo. Berolini, 1844. Alcedo cyanea is a new species. It is Halcyon vagans (Less.).

Tscuub1, J. J. von. Untersuchungen tiber die Fauna Peruana. Folio. St. Gallen, 1844-46 (p. 253).

Alcedo cabanisii, “ Linn.,” is a new species. I have followed ornithologists generally in giving Herr von Tschudi credit for this species, as I can hardly suppose that the celebrated German ornithologist after whom it is named was known to Linneus! It is, of course, a lapsus calami, but it reads curiously.

Buiyru, E. Notices and Descriptions of various new or little-known Species of Birds. (J. A.S. B. xiv. 1845, p. 190.) Alcedo grandis is a new species, from Darjiling.

Gov.p, J. Descriptions of eleven new Species of Australian Birds. (P. Z.S. 1846, p. 19.) Alcyone pulchra is a new species from Port Essington. Alcyone diemenensis is a new species from Tasmania.

Buiyru, E. Notices and Descriptions of various new or little-known Species of Birds. (J. A.S. B. xv. 1846, p. 11.) Alcedo moluccensis is a new species. Todirhamphus occipitalis is a new species Pee the Nicobars. It is probably H. chloris, but may prove to be distinct.

Gray, G. R., and MitcHett, D. G. Genera of Birds, vol. i. Small folio. 1846-47.

A résumé of the family is given, the genera being as follows:—Dacelo, with 6 species; Tanysiptera, with 2 species; Halcyon, with 48 species; Ceyx, with 2 species; Alcedo, with 19 species, six of which are considered doubtful; Aleyone, with 6 species; and Ceryle, with 15 species, one of which is doubtful, and four very doubtful. Of the eleven Kingfishers thus enumerated as irrecognizable by Mr. Gray, I have been able to make out four satisfactorily. The plates, for which alone Mr. Mitchell is responsible, represent the young of Halcyon lindsayi and Ispidina picta. Figures of the characters of the various genera are also given.

Buiytu, E. Report of Curator, Zoological Department. (J. A.S. B. xvi. 1847, p. 1180.) Alcedo nigricans is a new species.

Kaup, J. Die Familie der Eisvégel (Alcedidew). 8vo. Darmstadt, 1848.

Megaceryle is proposed as a subgenus for the reception of Ceryle guttata &c.

Chloroceryle for the reception of C. superciliosa &c.

Cittura for Dacelo cyanotis.

Corythornis is a new genus, the type of which is Alcedo nais, sp. n., described from a specimen in the British Museum. It is the young Corythornis galerita.

Ispidina is a uew genus, the type being J. picta (Bodd.).

Ispidina nitida is also a new species, the type of which is in the British Museum. It is Ispidina natalensis (Smith).

—*

LITERATURE. lxi

Goutp, J. Birds of Australia, vol. ii. Folio. 1848.

Beautiful plates of Dacelo gigantea, D. leachii, D. cervina, Halcyon sanctus, H. pyrrhopygia, H. sordidus, H. macleayii, Aleyone azurea, A. pusilla are given.

Dacelo cervina is described for the first time.

Gray, G. R. List of Specimens of Birds in the Collection of the British Museum. 12mo. 1848 (p. 51).

The specimens in the British Museum are here enumerated. ‘The types of Halcyon albicilla, Gould, H. superciliosa, Gray, Alcedo nais and A. nitida of Kaup, and Halcyon platyrostris, Gould, are the most noticeable rarities.

Halcyon superciliosa is here mentioned for the first time, though no description is given. It is the true Alcedo sacra of Gmelin.

Peas, TiT1AN. United States Exploring Expedition—Birds. Folio. Philadelphia, 1848. I have never seen this book ; but from Dr. Hartlaub’s critical notes on it (Archiv f. Naturg. 1852, p. 93) it appears that Dacelo nullitorquis was described as a new species. It is Todirhamphus veneratus (Lath.). Dacelo vitiensis is a new species. It is Halcyon sacra (Gm.). . Dacelo minima is a new species. It is Todirhamphus recurvirostris, Lafr. Dacelo coronata is a new species. It is Halcyon sacra (Gm.).

JARDINE, Sir W. Illustrations of Ornithology. 8vo. 1848-1852.

Alcyone cincta is a supposed new species, and is figured under this name on the plate. Afterwards identified with A. eyanopectus, Latr.

Alcedo quadribrachys is figured (pl. 79).

Buytu, E. Catalogue of the Birds in the Museum of the Asiatic Society. 8vo. Calcutta, 1849 (p. 46).

Twenty-five species are named; one more is added in the first appendix, and one more in the addenda to appendix, no. 1 (p.iii). In the further addenda to appendix, no. 3 (p. xxvii), Mr. Blyth believes A/cedo grandis, Bl., to be the adult, and A. nigricans, Bl., to be the young of Alcedo euryzonaot Temminck. This view is correct as regards A. nigricans; but Mr. Blyth has since altered his opinion as regards A. grandis.

Gou.p, J. On new Species of Birds from Australia. (P.Z.S. 1850, p. 200.) Tanysiptera sylvia is a new species from Cape York. Halcyon (Syma?) flavirostris is a new species from the same locality.

Cassix, Joun. Descriptions of new Species of Birds of the Genera Paradisea, Pastor, and Buceros, and a proposition to rename others of the genera Alcyone and LHirundo. (Proc. Phil. Acad. 1850, p. 67.)

A. azurea, apud Lesson, from New Guinea has been mistaken for the true A. azurea of

Australia, and is proposed to be called A. lessonit.

Ixii LITERATURE.

Bonaparte, C. L. Conspectus generum Avium. Royal 8vo. 1850 (p. 153).

Halcyon melanops, Todiramphus forsteni, and Alcedo quadribrachys are new species, described for the first time under the MS. names bestowed on the specimens in the Leyden Museum by Temminck.

Todiramphus funebris is described for the first time under the MS. name bestowed by Forsten on a specimen in the Leyden Museum.

Halcyon lilacina is the name proposed for the small race of Ruddy Kingfisher. It is the true H. coromanda (Lath. ex Sonn.).

Halcyon schlegeli is a new species from Japan. It is the large race of H. coromanda (=H. coromandeliana major, Schl.).

Actenoides hombroni is the name proposed for Actenoides variegata of Hombron and Jacquinot.

The arrangement of the species under the various genera and subgenera is fairly open to criticism ; but as the author amplifies his views in a more recent publication, we shall not attempt many remarks on the present occasion. As regards the number of species admitted, 92 in all, lam prepared to admit all but 10, viz.:—1. Haleyon striolata (= Halcyon pygmea); 2. Halcyon cancrophaga, indeterminable ; 3. Halcyon fusca=H. smyrnensis; 4. H. schlegeli= II. lilacina; 5. Todirhamphus chlorocephala=T. collaris; 6. Todiramphus varius= Halcyon concreta; 7. Ceya purpurea=Ceyx tridactyla; 8. Alcedo cerulea, indeterminable; 9. A. vintsioides=A. cristata; 10. A. nais= A. ceruleocephala.

So that we may fairly state that, in the year 1850, out of the number of Kingfishers recognized at the present day, 82 were then known to science.

Reicuensacn, Dr. L. Handbuch der speciellen Ornithologie—Alcedinez. 8vo, with royal 8vo atlas. Dresden, 1851.

A compilation from the works of previous writers, from whose plates the figures accom- panying the present ‘ Monograph’ have been derived. Many new genera are proposed, few of which hold good, while some of the names are so ill-chosen as to be positively unaccept- able even to stringent observers of the rule of priority of nomenclature. One hundred and six species are enumerated, of which several are proposed as new; but not one of them is good.

Alcedo pallasii is a new species from Eastern Europe. It is not distinguishable from A, ispida.

Halcyon irrorata is the name proposed for Smith’s H. senegaloides.

Rhamphalcyon is a new genus. It is Pelargopsis of Gloger.

Hylcaon (!!) is a new genus for the reception of the Alcedo melanorhyncha of Temminck.

Ceryle leucomelanura is a new species from Ceylon. I cannot see any distinction between it and ordinary C. rudis.

Amazonis is a new genus formed for the reception of Ceryle inda and C. superciliosa. It is not structurally different from true Ceryle.

Monachalcyon is a new genus, of which the type is Dacelo gaudichaudi. Another species

LITERATURE. [xiii is MW. princeps. Dacelo gaudichaudi is a true Dacelo, and not in the least congeneric with Monachalcyon princeps, which is really the type of a distinct genus.

Chelicutia is a new genus. The type is Alcedo chelicuti of Stanley. This name is of course ignored in the new genus, which has no structural peculiarities to separate it from Halcyon.

Lacedo (!!) is a new genus, the type of which is the Dacelo pulchella of Horsfield.

Megaceryle cwsia and M. domingensis are new species. They are difficult to distinguish from the plates, but seem to be Ceryle torquata and C. alcyon.

Chloroceryle leucosticta and C. chalcites are new species. They appear to be C. amazonia and C. americana.

Verreavx, J. & E. Description d’espéces nouvelles, rares ou peu connues, d’oiseaux de Gabon. (Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p. 264.) Halcyon badia is a new species.

De ta Berce. Description d’une nouvelle espéce de Martin-pécheur. (Rev. Zool. 1851, p- 305, pl. 9.)

Alcedo verreauaii is a new species from Borneo. It is the female of A. asiatica.

Cassiy, J. Catalogue of the Halcyonide in the Collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 8vo. 1852.

A very good collection is contained in the Philadelphia Museum, the most noticeable rarities being all the types of Mr. Gould’s Australian species, as follows:—Alcyone pusilla, Halcyon pyrrhopygia, H. sordidus, Syma flavirostris, Dacelo cervina, Tanysiptera sylvia. Besides these the Museum also contains the type of Alcyone lesson.

SrrickLAND, H. E., and Sciater, P. L. List of a Collection of Birds procured by Mr. C. J. Andersson in the Damara Country in South-western Africa. (Contr. to Orn. 1852, p- 141.) Halcyon damarensis, Strickl., is a new species. It seems to be nothing more than a large South-African race of H. chelicutensis.

Hartiavs, Dr. G. Bericht iiber die Leistungen in der Naturgeschichte der Vogel wihrend des Jahres 1851. 8vo. Berlin, 1852. In a review of “the Alcedinew” of Reichenbach’s ‘ Handbuch,’ the author believes that a bird figured by him as H. cinnamomina, from the Marquesas Islands, is really not that species; and he proposes to call it H. reichenbachii.

Homsron, H., et Pucnpran, Dr. Voyage au Péle Sud et dans l’Océanie—Zoologie, tome iii. Mammiferes et Oiseaux. 8vo. Paris, 1853, And folio Atlas of Plates (1842-53). The plates were evidently published before the letterpress, as two Kingfishers are figured

lxiv LITERATURE.

as new—le Martin-chasseur de Salusse, afterwards found to be Dacelo cervina, Gould, anu the Acténoide variée, which was named in the text Actenoides variegata, but had been pre- viously described by Prince Bonaparte as Actenoides hombroni.

PucneraN, Dr. Etudes sur les Types peu connus du Musée de Paris. (Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1853, p. 384.)

A very valuable essay on the types in the Paris Museum.

a. Types of Cuvier. Ceyx purpureus comprises two distinct species, viz. Ceyx tridactyla (Pall.), and C. rujfi- dorsa, Strickl. Alcedo vestita is not recognized by Dr. Pucheran, but is evidently Ceryle amazonia. Alcedo ruficeps is Halcyon cinnamomeus (lege cinnamomina). Alcedo albicilla is supposed by Dr. Pucheran to be different from Halcyon saurophaga of Gould, but in my opinion is identical.

b. Types of Vieillot. Alcedo cerulescens is the A. birw of Horsfield. Alcedo australasie is H. coronata, Miller. Both of Vieillot’s names stand.

c. Types of Lesson. Alcedo azureus is A. semitorquata, Swains. Dacelo albicilla is Alcedo albicilla of Cuvier, and the var. A and B of Lesson are only the young of the same bird. Dacelo actwon is Halcyon semicerulea (Gm.) apud Pucheran; but as the type is from the Cape-Verde Islands it must belong to the closely allied but larger H. erythrogastra (Temm.).

Mi.ier, Baron J. W. von. Beitrage zur Ornithologie Afrika’s. Folio. Stuttgart, 1853, 1854. Halcyon dryas is figured (Lief. iii.).

Bonapartr, C. L. Conspectus Volucrum Anisodactylorum. 8vo. 1854 (p. 9). A brief synopsis of the family is given, the number of genera recognized being 26. The paper is full of errors as regards the correct types of the different genera.

Callalcyon is a new genus, recognized as such for the first time, although previously used as a subgenus in the ‘ Conspectus.’ Cancrophaga is a new genus for the reception of the African Halcyones. The type is H. badia, Verreaux. Halcyon cancrophaga (Lath.) is proposed to be called Cancrophaga lathami. Unfortunately, however, Latham’s species cannot be identified.

Cyanalcyon is a new genus. ‘Type C. pyrrhopygia (Gould).

LITERATURE. lxv

LicuTensTEIN, Dr. H. Nomenclator Avium musei zoologici berolinensis. 8vo. Berlin, 1854. Ceryle abyssinica is a new species, named but not described. It is not different from Halcyon chloris.

ReIcHENBACH, Prof. D. L. Zur Synonymik sumatranischer Vogel. (Journ. f. Orn. 1854, p. 148.)

This article has reference to a paper published in the ‘Jahresbericht’ of the Natural- History Society of Emden, entitled “ Verzeichniss der von dem Herrn Major Kreling zu Padang im J. 1852 geschenkten Vogel,” &c. Among those mentioned by Kreling is a sup- posed new species of Kingfisher, which he calls Alcedo puella. Professor Reichenbach identifies it as Halcyon pileata. I have never seen the original paper.

HorsrFiE.p, T., and Moorz, F. Catalogue of the Birds in the Museum of the Hon. East- India Company, i. p. 122 (1854). Eighteen species are represented in the collection.

Hartiaus, G. Versuch einer synoptischen Ornithologie Westafrica’s. (Journ. f. Orn. 1854, p. 1.) Halcyon dryas is a new species from Prince’s Island and St. Thomas.

Mize, Baron J. W.von. Systematisches Verzeichniss der Vogel Afrika’s. (Journ. f. Orn. 1858, p. 1.) A complete list of the Kingfishers of Africa is given. Twenty-seven kinds are enumerated, eight of which are not entitled to a place as separate species.

Verreaux, J. and E. Description d’oiseaux nouveaux de | Afrique méridionale et occi- dentale. (Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1855, pp. 270, 352.) Notes on the habits of Halcyon dryas, Ispidina cyanotis, and Corythornis cristatus (auct. nec Linn.) are given.

Cassin, Jonny. Descriptions of new Species of African Birds in the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, collected by Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu in Equatorial Africa. (Proc. Phil. Acad. 1856, p. 156.)

Ispidina lecontei is a new species from the Moonda River.

Harriavs, Dr. G. System der Ornithologie Westafrika’s. 8vo. Bremen, 1857.

A complete handbook to the avifauna of Western Africa. ‘Twenty-three species of King- fishers are recorded as occurring in this region; but this number must be reduced by seven, viz. Halcyon cancrophaga (Lath.), Alcedo senegalensis, and Ceryle tricolor, which are inde- terminable, while Halcyon rufiventris=H. semicerulea, Alcedo nitida is not West African, but is A. natalensis, A. nais=A. ceruleocephala, and Ceryle gigantea=C. maxima. Add as distinct Halcyon erythrogastra (Temm.) from the Cape-Verde Islands, and the number of West-African Kingfishers will be found to be seventeen.

U

Ixvi LITERATURE.

GouLp, Jonn. Description of three new and very beautiful Species of Birds from Guatemala and from the Island of Lombock. (P. Z.S. 1857, p. 65.) Contains a description of Halcyon fulgidus from Lombock; type of the genus Caridonaxr of Cabanis and Heine (Mus. Hein. Th. ii. p. 162, 1860).

VERREAUX, J. Description d’Oiseaux nouveaux. (Rey. et Mag. de Zool. 1858, p. 305.) Cyanalcyon leucopygius is a new species from the Solomon Islands.

Gray, G. R. List of the Birds, with Descriptions of new Species, obtained by Mr. Alfred R. Wallace in the Aru and Ké Islands. (P. Z.S. 1858, p. 169.) | Dacelo tyro is a new species. It is figured (pl. cxxxiii.) from Aru. Halcyon sordida is a variety of the true H. sordida (afterwards named Sauropatis grayi by Cabanis and Heine). Tanysiptera hydrocharis is a new species.

Cassin, Jonny. U. S. Exploring Expedition—Mammalogy and Ornithology. Royal 4to. Philadelphia, 1858. After giving the species obtained by the Expedition, the author produces an admirable essay on the genus Todiramphus (auct. nec Less.), which clears up a great deal of confusion, but, from insufficient material at the author’s command, is defective in some few points.

Gray, G. R. Catalogue of the Birds of the Tropical Islands of the Pacific Ocean in the Collection of the British Museum. $8vo. 1859. Halcyon (Actenoides) jacquinoti is supposed to be a new species, founded on a bird men- tioned by Hombron and Jacquinot (Ann. Sci. Nat. n.s. xvi. p. 315).

——. List of Birds lately sent by Mr. A. R. Wallace from Dorey, or Dorery, New Guinea. (P. Z.S. 1859, p. 153.) Tanysiptera galatea is a new species.

Heine, F. Ueber einige neue oder weniger bekannter Vogel des ‘*‘ Museum Heineanum.” (Journ. f. Orn. 1859, p. 406.) Tanysiptera margarethe is a new species. Uraleyon is a new genus. The type is Tanysiptera sylvia, Gould.

GovuLD, J. Birds of Asia, part xii. Folio. June Ist, 1860. Dacelo tyro, Halcyon atricapillus, H. fulgidus, and H. omnicolor are figured.

Caxanis, Dr. J., and Herne, F. Museum Heineanum, Theil ii. 8vo. 1860 (p. 143).

Containing a list, with full synonymy, of the various species contained in Heine’s Museum. Notes on allied species are added; and altogether this work is one of the most valuable and careful expositions of the family Alcedinide ever published.

LITERATURE. Ixvii

Alcedo sondaica is recognized as a distinct species from A. bengalensis. It is the Alcedo bengalensis, var. sondaica of Reichenbach.

Ceryle varia, Strickl., is the name retained for the eastern form of C. rudis.

Ichthynomus is a new genus. The type is Ceryle maxima of Pallas.

Pagurothera is anew genus for the reception of the section of the genus Halcyon with striped heads, of which H. chelicuti is the type. Chelicutia of Reichenbach is synonymous ; but this name is rejected as “ barbarous.”

Entomobia is a new genus for the reception of certain eastern Halcyones. E.. cyanoventris is the type.

Sauropatis is a new name proposed instead of the usually assigned name of T'odirham- phus auct. (nec Less.), which is considered “barbarous.” The type is Sawropatis sancta (V¥.& H.).

Sauropatis grayi is a new species from the Aru Islands. It is the H. sordida of Gray (nec Gould).

Caridagrus is a new genus formed for the reception of C. concretus (Temm.).

Astacophilus is a new genus for the reception of A. lindsayi (Vig.).

Caridonasx is a new genus for the reception of C. fulgidus (Gould).

Carcineutes is a new genus for the reception of C. pulchellus (Horsf.). It is the genus Lacedo of Reichenbach, this name being too “ barbarous” to be entertained.

Sauromarptis is a new genus for the reception of S. gaudichaudi (Q. & G.).

Paralcyon is the genus employed instead of Dacelo, Leach, which is considered “ bar- barous.”

Herve, F. Ueber zwei neue Waldlieste (Sauropatis). (Journ. f. Orn. 1860, p. 183.) Sauropatis julie is a new species from New Hebrides. S. Reichenbachii is Todirhamphus cinnamominus, Reich., from the Marquesas Islands (nec H. cinnamomina, Sw.). Herr Heine seems unaware that Dr. Hartlaub had already separated this bird under the self-same name.

Gray, G. R. List of Birds collected by Mr. Wallace at the Molucca Islands, with Descrip- tions of new Species (P. Z. 8. 1860, p. 341). Tanysiptera nais is a new species from Amboina. T. isis is a new species from Batchian and Gilolo. It is 7. margarethe of Heine. T. sabrina is a new species from Kaioa Island. Ceyx uropygialis is a new species from Batchian and Ternate. Alcyone affinis is a new species from Batchian.

Govutp, J. Birds of Asia, part xiii. May Ist, 1861. Halcyon fusca and H. gularis are figured.

——. Birds of Asia, part xiv. May Ist, 1862. Alcedo bengalensis is figured.

-

Ixvili LITERATURE.

Wattace, A. R. On some new or rare Birds from New Guinea. (P. Z. S. 1862, p. 164.) Halcyon nigrocyanea is a new species, of which a figure (of the female) is given (pl. xix.).

List of Birds collected in the Island of Bouru. (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 18.) Tanysiptera acis is a new species.

Ceyx cajeli is a new species, of which a figure is given.

A complete list of the species of Tanysiptera is given.

ScHLEGEL, H. Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle des Pays-Bas—Alcédines. Mai 1863.

A résumé of all the species contained in the great collection at Leyden. The author divides the family into two genera, Alcedo and Dacelo, using the generally accepted genera in a subgeneric rank only. The following points call for remark. Alcedo cyanostigma (p. 11) is considered distinct from A. cristata (auct. nec Linn.), of which it is the young. Alcedo amauroptera is considered to be the same as A. leucocephala; but it is a good species, as Professor Schlegel now freely admits.

Alcedo picturata is a new species from South Africa. It is A. natalensis, Smith.

Alcedo lecontei is not that species, but A. ruficeps, Hartl.

Dacelo tyro is considered to be a stage of plumage of D. gaudichaudi, but is afterward admitted to be distinct.

Dacelo grayi is a new species from New Hebrides. It is the Sawropatis julie, Heine.

Dacelo sacra is not the true H. sacra, but is Todirhamphus tutus (Gm.).

Only four species of Tanysiptera are recognized—the single remark we have to make being that, although 7. sabrina is united to T. doris, Professor Schlegel had at that time not seen the true 7’. sabrina, which is from Kaioa.

Dacelo rubra is Ceyx tridactyla (Pall.).

Hevaun, Tu. von. Ueber Alcedinen und Meropiden Nordost-Afrika’s. (Journ. f. Orn. 1864, p. 329.) A list of the Kingfishers of North-eastern Africa is given, with their geographical distribution.

ScoLEGeL, H. De Vogels van Nederlandsch Indié. Royal 4to. Haarlem, 1864. Mono- graphie 2. Ijsvogels (Martins-pécheurs). A résumé in Dutch and French of all the Kingfishers found in the Dutch possessions in the East Indies. It is derived from his former list of Alcédines in the Catalogue of the Leyden Museum, and is accompanied by excellent figures of all the species treated of.

Prizetn, A. von. Reise der dsterreichischen Fregatte ‘ Novara’—Vogel. 4to. Wien, 1865. A list of the species obtained by the Expedition is given. Good notes are published on Halcyon chloris and Todirhamphus veneratus.

ScuteGeL, H. Observations zoologiques, II. (Nederl. Tydschrift voor de Dierkunde, vol. iii. p. 187, 1865-66.) Dacelo fallax is a new species.

LITERATURE. lxix

ScHLEGEL, H. Notice sur le sous-genre Tanysiptera. (L.c. p. 269.)

A most elaborate and exhaustive article, based upon the material in the Leyden Museum. The object is to show that there are only three or four species, and not so many as are admitted by Mr. Wallace and myself.

VeRREAUX, J. Description de quelques oiseaux nouveaux appartenant a la collection zoologique du Muséum. (Nouv. Arch. du Mus. ii. Bull. p. 21, 1866.) Tanysiptera riedeli is a new species.

Digeizs, 8. Ornithology of Australia. Small folio. Queensland, 1867-69.

Part 1. Dacelo gigantea is figured.

Part 2. Halcyon sanctus and H. macleayi are figured ; but the figure of the former bird is taken from a young H. macleayi.

Part 12. Dacelo leachii is figured.

Part 15. Tanysiptera sylvia, ad. et juv., is figured.

Finscu, O., and Hartiaus, G. Beitrag zur Fauna Centralpolynesiens; Ornithologie der Viti-, Samoa- und Tonga-Inseln. 8vo. Halle, 1867. The Kingfishers are here most elaborately treated, the synonymy being carefully worked out. Halcyon pealei (p. 39) and H. cassini (p. 40) are described as new; but I believe them to be only stages of H. sacra.

LayarD. Birds of South Africa. 8vo. Cape Town, 1867. A list of South-African Kingfishers is given (cf. Sharpe, Ibis, 1869, p. 275).

BocacE, J. V. Barspoza pu. Aves das possessdes portuguezas da Africa occidental que existem no Museu de Lisboa. (Jorn. Acad. R. das Sciencias de Lisboa, 1867, i. p. 129.) A list of the species in the Lisbon Museum is given.

Suarrg, R. B. On two new or little-known Kingfishers belonging to the Genera Ceyx or Cittura. (P. Z.S8. 1868, p. 270.) Ceyx wallacei is a new species from the Sula Islands. Cittura sanghirensis is a new species from Sanghir.

GovuLp, Jonny. Description of a new Species of the Genus Ceya. (P.Z.S. 1868, p. 404.) Ceyx philippinensis is a new species from Manila.

Snarpe, R. B. On the Genus Ceyr.. (P. Z.S. 1868, p. 587.) A list of the species known up to date is given. Ceyx dillwynit is a new species from Labuan.

Prrers, W. Vorlaufige Mittheilung iiber einige neue Vogelarten aus Mossambique. (Journ. f. Orn. 1868, p. 131.)

H. orientalis is a new species from Inhambane.

lxx LITERATURE.

GouLp, J. Description of Ceryle sharpii, a new Species fromt he Gaboon. (Ann. Nat. Hist. 1869, p. 271.) Ceryle sharpei is described.

——. Description of a new Species of Dacelo from North-western Australia. (P. Z. S. 1869, p- 602.) Dacelo occidentalis is described.

SHARPE, R. B. On the Kingfishers of South Africa. (Ibis, 1869, p. 275.) Critical remarks on the Alcedinide of Mr. Layard’s book.

SatvaporI, T. Monografia del genere Ceyx. (Atti del R. Accad. delle Scienze di Torino, iv. 1869, p. 440.)

Ceycopsis is a new genus. The type is Dacelo fallax of Schlegel.

Ceyx sharpei is a new species from Borneo. It is figured, and stated to have been con- founded by Reichenbach under the name of C. tridactyla. < if

Ceyx innominata is a new species. It is the C. rufidorsa auct., nec Strickl.; but an examination of the type at Cambridge shows that it is also C. rufidorsa of Strickland (cf. Sharpe, P. Z.S. 1869, p. 510).

The above is one of the best papers ever written on any of the genera of the Alcedinida, — and is very exhaustive.

SuarPe, R. B. Additional Notes on the Genus Ceya. (P. Z. 8. 1869, p. 507.) Critical remarks on Count Salvadori’s paper above mentioned.

On a new Kingfisher belonging to the Genus Tanysiptera. (P.Z. 8. 1869, p. 630.) Tanysiptera ellioti is a new species.

Gray, G.R. Hand-list of Genera and Species of Birds, Part I. 8vo. 1869.

A complete list of Kingfishers is given up to the present date.

Alcedo hartlaubi is a supposed new species from Ashanti; but I cannot see the distinctness from true Corythornis cyanostigma.

SuarPe, R. B. On the Genus Pelargopsis. (P.Z. 8. 1870, p. 61.)

An attempt to clear up the confusion existing respecting the Kingfishers of the genus Pelargopsis.

P. gouldi is a new species from the Philippines.

P. fraseri is the P. leucocephala auct., nec Gm., from Java. It is also the true Alcedo capensis of Linneeus; but as no such bird exists at the Cape of Good Hope, the name cannot be retained.

P. burmanica is a new species.

P. floresiana is a new species.

P. malaccensis may be regarded as a subspecies of P. gurial, but may have to be separated as a species.

LITERATURE. lxxi

Finscu, Dr. O., and Hartiaus, Dr. G. Ornithologie Ost-Afrika’s. (Von der Decken’s Reise, iv. p. 163, 1870.) Halcyon chelicutensis is the more grammatical reading proposed for H. chelicuti (Stanl.).

SuarPe, R. B. A Monograph of the Alcedinide, or Kingfishers. Imp. 8vo. Published by the Author, 1868-71. Tanysiptera emilie is a new species from Raou. Pelargopsis malaccensis, provisionally separated (P. Z. S. 1870, p. 67), is declared to be a good species.

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS,

RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

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SUB-FAMILY

ALCEDININ A.

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ALCEDO ISPIDA.

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(COMMON KINGFISHER.)

Alcedo ispida . ‘ , : - : Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 179 (1766).

Alcedo subispida ; ‘ ‘ F , Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. I, p. 149 (1831).

Alcedo advena . : : : : : Brehm, Vég. Deutschl. I, p. 150, t. XI, fig. 2 (1831). Alcedo pallasii . : , ; ; ; Reich. Handb. Alced. p. 3, t. ecexcii, fig. 3043-44, t. ecexciii,

figs. 3045-46 (1851).

A. torque pectorali nulli: abdomine leté castaneo: tectricibus alarum cyaneo conspicué terminatis: regione parotica rufa: major: rostro brevi: supra viridi-cyanea: capite cyaneo fasciato.

Hab. in regione Palearctic.

Male. Above blue, the base of the feathers being greyish-black; head crested, barred with bright blue; upper part of the back and scapulars green; rest of the back, rump and upper tail-coverts beautiful rich cobalt; wing-coverts green, the greater coverts inclining to blue, distinctly spotted at the tip of each feather with bright bars of cobalt; quills blackish, pale rufous at the base of the mner web, the outer web broadly washed with. ereenish blue; tail deep blue inclining to indigo above, black beneath; lores and ear-coverts light chesnut ; cheeks blue; throat, and a patch of feathers along the sides of the neck white, slightly tinged with fulvous ; rest of the under surface of the body rich chesnut with a patch of blue feathers on the sides of the upper part of the breast; bill black; feet red. Total length 7°5 inches, of bill from front 1°7, from gape 2°0, wing 2°95, tail 1°5, tarsus 0°3, middle toe 0°55, hind toe 0°25.

Female. Exactly similar to the male, but has the base of the lower mandible orange.

Young. Similar to the adults, but has the bill shorter and more mixed with orange, and the feathers of the upper part of the breast edged with greyish and tinged with a slight dusky-blue lustre.

[By the kind permission of my friend Mr. H. E. Dresser, who is my colleague in the forthcoming ‘‘ History of the Birds of Europe,” I have taken this account of the Kingfisher from the MSS. prepared for the last-named work. Nor shall we regret this circumstance, as although we have endeavoured to make the present account as complete as we can, it is quite possible to make it more perfect, and I, therefore, appeal to all my friends who have aided me in the present work to supplement as far as possible the details here given, so that when the species has to be treated of in the “ Birds of Europe” the account may be

quite complete. R. B. S.]

The Corvus agyptius of Hasselquist, from which Latham took the description of his ‘‘Egyptian Gracle,”’ on which again Gmelin founded his Gracula atthis, is very puzzling, for Hasselquist’s description suits that of Alcedo ispida very well; but he says that it lives in Egypt in trees (!), feeds on insects, and that he has found the remains of centipedes and scorpions in the stomach. In any case, it is impossible to say whether the bird mentioned by Hasselquist, if a Kingfisher at all, were A. zspida or A. bengalensis, and as the question of the determination is of little moment, we have expunged Gracula atthis from our list of synonyms.

' Mr. Gould has beautiful specimens of the Common Kingfisher from the Crimea, which appear to be identically the same as our British bird, and it is impossible to find a definite character on which to found specific distinction. Nevertheless, Professor Reichenbach has separated the bird from Eastern Europe as a distinct species. The worthy Professor has been singularly unfortunate in the species he has created among the “ Alcedinide,” and we fear that in the present instance he has not been more successful than usual. Nevertheless we state his case in his own words, leaving it to the judgment of Ornithologists to pronounce upon the specific validity of Alcedo pallasii :—

‘“ General colour as in A. dspida, but the throat sharply divided by a straight defined line from the reddish-brown breast. The young bird also differs from that of the former by the sharply defined white throat and greyish-brown under-surface. Besides the well characterized difference in the colour, particularly in the plumage of the young, there is a good difference in the short thick-set build of the foot and toes, as also of the toes and nails, the latter in particular being, though shorter, twice as high as in A. ispida, that of the latter being scarcely one millimétre, of the present species two millimétres. It is found on the large rivers of Asiatic Russia and on the Volga ; according to Eversman, it is rare on the latter river, occurring as far north as the Kama. It is more plentiful at Irtisch, notably more so on the rivers of the Altai and Jenessei, and in the whole of Western (but not Eastern) Siberia, than on the lakes. The three young birds which I have before me, of which I figure two, were shot in the end of July, 1849, on the Lake Noor Saisan in Sangarian Tartary. Old birds appear to pass from the East through Germany in the winter, and have been shot in Saxony, but I have never seen young birds of this species in Germany, and it, therefore, probably does not breed with us. If Alcedo advena of Brehm is this species I cannot say, as the difference in the skull, on which this learned author founds most of his species, cannot be observed, unless the bird is freshly received.”

Now it is evident that Reichenbach inserted the localities for his species on the authorities of Pallas and Eversman; but, on the other hand, Dr. Von Schrenk, who has actually examined specimens from the Altai Mountains, refers them to Alcedo bengalensis, the small representative of Alcedo ispida. We fear that among the host of imaginary species already burdening the pages of Ornithology, the Alcedo pallasii of Professor Reichenbach must be added as another victim.

Our Common Kingfisher is spread all over Europe, but does not extend its range far north. As astraggler it occurs in Scandinavia, but has not been known to breed in Sweden, though Kjerbélling states that it has been found nesting in Denmark. In these northern latitudes it has only been observed as an occasional visitant during the latter part of the summer and autumn, its farthest summer range to the north being probably the Baltic Provinces. In Great Britain it is generally distributed and is subject to a partial migration, a few remaining with us during the winter season. According to a note communicated to Mr. Gould's * Birds of Great Britain” by H. G. the Duke of Argyll, it visits Argyleshire only occasionally and at distant intervals, and never remains long ; indeed, in Scotland it is far scarcer than in England.

As regards its distribution throughout the British Islands, Mr. A. G. More, in his admirable paper on the distribution of our native birds during the breeding season, says it is “thinly scattered throughout England and the south of Scotland. Breeds regularly in

Ayr, occasionally in Lanark, regularly in nearly all the counties of sub province 28 (see his map, Ibis, 1865, p. 138), regularly in Stirling and Clackmannan, and perhaps every year in Perthshire, where it is very rare.”’

_. Mr. Thompson writes respecting its distribution in Ireland as follows (Nat. Hist. of Ireland, vol. I. p. 369):—“It is nowhere numerous; as many individuals, however, would seem to be distributed over districts favourable for their abode in Ireland as in any other country. There is decidedly a partial migration or movement of these birds. They came regularly every year about the same time in the month of August to ponds at our own residence in the country, contiguous to the mountains, and elevated 500 feet above the sea. They remained generally for about six weeks, and once only were seen in winter. Their first appearance in the year 1831 was on the 4th August; in 1833 on the 14th; in 1834 on the 14th; and in 1835 on the 17th of that month.”

Our friend M. Jules Verreaux telis us that in France it is generally distributed and breeds everywhere, but is now becoming rare in some districts owing to the superstition of the peasants, who shoot and mummify the bird, believing that when hung up with extended wings the beak will always point to the quarter from which the wind blows.

Bailly says that it is resident in Switzerland and Savoy, but that it is more numerous in the summer, a partial migration taking place in winter.

Lord Lilford and Mr. Howard Saunders have both noticed the species in Spain, and Mr. A. C. Smith records it as ‘‘common in Portugal.” In Sardinia it is also common according to Count Salvadori, and in Tuscany is a resident as recorded by Savi. In the lately-published book on the “ Birds of Lombardy” by Signor E. Bettoni, a figure of the young bird is given and we are informed that it breeds in this country.

Mr. C. A. Wright (Ibis, 1864, p. 73) says that in Malta the Common Kingfisher, which is called by the Maltese Ghasfur ta San Martin, is ‘‘an annual visitor; generally seen about the sea-shore in pairs. Arrives in August and September, and occasionally observed in the winter months. One was killed on the 14th March, 1862. Said to breed here sometimes.” :

In Tangiers and Eastern Morocco, Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt Drake (Ibis, 1867, p. 425) found the Kingfisher ‘“‘common and breeding.” Both Malherbe and Loche record it as common in Algeria, but do not state if it breeds, though no doubt it does so.

To Egypt we believe it certainly extends, as Capt. Shelley obtained specimens which appear to us to belong to this species, but at the same time Alcedo bengalensis also occurs. Mr. E. ©. Taylor, an excellent Field Naturalist, writing on A. zspida, states (Ibis, 1859, p. 47) that he ‘‘saw this bird once only near Atfeh, a place where the Mahmoudeeh Canal joins the Nile;” and again (Ibis, 1867, p. 56) he writes: —“By no meansacommon bird. I saw it more frequently near Cairo than anywhere else.” Now we think it very probable that the last-named birds observed by Mr. Taylor were Alcedo bengalensis, for as observed in the account of this species (vide infra) Mr. J. Keast Lord obtained at Shoobra, near Cairo, a specimen of A. bengalensis with the longest bill we ever saw. Messrs. Eaton and Baird have lately brought the little Indian Kingfisher from Egypt, but our friend Captain Shelley, who specially devoted some time to the investigation of the subject, brought back several specimens, all of which, however, apparently belong to the Common Kingfisher. It will, therefore, be evident to Ornithologists that the reason of the occurrence of both species of Alcedo in. Egypt is veiled in much obscurity. For our part, we can only account for the fact of one Naturalist meeting with one species while another equally meets with the other, by the supposition that in Egypt the ranges of both species inosculate, and further, that their occurrence is uncertain, each bird being more common in that country one year than another.

The Rev. Dr. Tristram gives (Ibis, 1866, p. 84) the following particulars respecting its distribution in Palestine :—‘‘Alcedo ispida is scattered everywhere throughout the country wherever there are streams, and also along the Mediterranean coasts; but it is nowhere very abundant, though evidently unaffected by climate, fishing indifferently in the little

torrents of the Lebanon, among the ruined columns of Tyre, or in the seething swamps of the Jordan valley. All three species (A. spida, C. rudis, and H. smyrnensis) resort to the shores of the Dead Sea, attracted by the shoals of fishes which are brought down by the fresh water streams and soon stupified by the brine of the Lake. One morning on the western side, Mr. Shepherd shot all three species within a few minutes of each other; generally, however, we met with A. ispida in more secluded localities, and on the banks of smaller streams than the others, and even in ditches. In the Lebanon it is the only species.”

In Corfu and Epirus, Lord Lilford (Ibis, 1860, p. 236) found it ‘very abundant and resident;” and in Turkey, Messrs. Elwes and Buckley (Ibis, 1870, p. 189) say that it is not uncommon in suitable localities. Captain Sperling likewise observes (Ibis, 1864, p. 282) that ‘it is common about the marshes and salt-water lagoons of Greece.” Mr. Robson has sent several specimens from Asia Minor and Turkey, in both of which countries it appears not uncommon. Rens

Demidoff says (Voy Russ. Merid. 3, p. 207) that “the Kingfisher lives in pairs on the shady banks of all the rivers which empty themselves into the Black Sea; towards the middle of April it arrives on the marshes which are found in the neighbourhood of Odessa. It is pretty generally distributed throughout the province of Ghouriel.”

De Filippi says that he saw it once at Nickbey in Persia, but it is probable that the bird here observed was A. bengalensis, and we suspect that the A. aspida of Hutton (J.A.S. B. xvi, pt. I, p. 777), from Kandahar, where it is ‘‘ found on the banks of rivers all the year through,” is referable to the same bird. ’ To the eastward the range of the Common Kinefisher is difficult to determine, for it has certainly been often confounded with A. bengalensis, but it probably does not extend far beyond the Ural, if indeed it crosses this barrier.

” Beautiful as many of our British Birds undoubtedly are, for brilliancy of plumage the Kingfisher stands unsurpassed ; and althoughit cannot boast an elegant form, it is, nevertheless, a general favourite on account of its beautiful appearance. Scarcely any of our rivers are without the attendant Kingfisher, and even dwellers in the neighbourhood of London may make its acquaintance, for the banks of the Thames are enlivened by its presence, while we have on one occasion seen it flying on the ornamental water in St. James’s Park. In the list of birds observed wild in the Zoological Gardens, published by Mr. Louis Fraser (P.Z.S., 1863, p. 159), the Kingfisher is not included, but we have seen one on a single occasion sitting over the water in one of the ponds, probably attracted by the notes of its companions in the Aviary in the Fish-house. When in a wild state, flying along the banks of a stream or sitting patiently at watch for its finny prey, the Kingfisher is a beautiful sight. Often has it been our good fortune to witness the bird at close quarters, but this is by no means easy to accomplish, owing to the extreme wariness of the bird from repeated persecution. The presence of the Kingfisher in one’s neighbourhood can be detected from some distance by the faint cry which falls upon the ear from afar. This note, which is a shrill but not unmusical scream, generally consists of two syllables, but is very difficult to render in language. Naumann gives it as ‘‘ #-7t,” which is by no means a bad representation of the ery, and these syllables are quickly repeated as the bird leaves its perch and skims over the stream. The flight is rapid and very direct, the bird speeding like a bullet a little height above the surface of the water. When suddenly disturbed it utters its ery shortly after leaving its perch, and then flies for some distance in silence, but when passing unmolested from one resting-place to another, its shrill note may be heard at frequent intervals. Just before perching the cry is uttered three or four times successively—t-ti-ti. When resting it sits uprightly with the glance directed downwards, motionlessly scanning the stream beneath, intent on the capture of any fish or water insect which may come within its reach, Its unerring dive seldom proves fruitless, and when secured, a few smart raps: on its perch, to which the bird always returns, deprives the victim of life, after which it is immediately swallowed, Except in the early morning it seldom chooses a very open position

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for its resting-place, but in the autumn when the migration is in progress, at break of day it is not unusual to see two or even three birds in company on a rail or on the side of a punt ; in the day time, however, it loves solitude, and seldom more than one can be seen at once, and then it affects more shady and secluded haunts. In general it is a lonely bird, jealous of intrusion, especially from individuals of its own species. Each pair appear to choose and maintain a particular hunting ground, and should one Kingfisher enter upon the domain of another, it is speedily and effectually ousted by the rightful owner with cries of rage. So fierce is the animosity displayed by these birds, that when excited in combat they fly heedless of obstacles, and thus occasionally meet their death in their headlong career ; not long ago, indeed, an instance was recorded in the “ Field,” by Mr. E. Ward, of two Kingfishers which flew with such violence against a window, that both pursuer and pursued met their death on the spot. Mr. Alfred Denison possesses these identical specimens, which were stuffed to commemorate the occurrence.

In the above details of the habits of our Kingfisher, the results of our observations differ considerably from those of Dr. Kiitter as hereinafter given, and we can only reconcile the discrepancy by supposing that the Kingfisher in Germany is a more pacific bird than its English congener.

The late Mr. Briggs of Cookham, a most accurate observer of the habits of our British Birds, and one whose loss cannot sufficiently be deplored, has told us that he has often watched the Kingfisher dive several times from its post without apparently capturing any prey, and that its object in so doing he believed to be, by disturbing the water, to attract the small fish and insects. To this hypothesis we cannot adhere, and our opinion is that the bird merely plunges in order to wash itself, and Mr. Frederick Bond, the well-known Mentor of British Ornithologists, concurs in this opinion; we were also on one occasion witnesses to a freak on the part of a Kingfisher which was wildly dashing backwards and forwards in a small brook, apparently taking a bath and screaming vociferously all the while.

The young, even when in the nest, are noisy, and their presence can be detected in the breeding-hole by the cries they emit. When able to fly they sit in secluded spots in the neighbourhood of the nest, and are very clamorous for food. The old birds evince great solicitude for their offspring, and when an intruder is seen in the neighbourhood of their young may be observed flying restlessly from point to point with the food in the bill intended for the little Kingfishers, who, unsuspecting danger, answer the anxious cry of the parent bird from the depths of the shady retreat where they are awaiting its return. It is to be recorded that when only just able to fly*the note of the young exactly resemble the disyllabic ery of the adult bird, but is of course not so powerful.

The Kingfisher, though essentially frequenting water, by no means confines its choice of a breeding locality to the vicinity of that element, and the nest is not unfrequently found at some distance from the nearest stream. We know ourselves of an instance where a pair of birds selected a hole in a garden-bank in Dr. Goolden’s grounds at Maidenhead, at least a mile away from any water, at a very little height from the ground, and within easy reach of the passers by. In our opinion, the nature of the soil has more to do with the choice of the nesting-hole, its pliability for tunneling being the most essential requirement.

We may add that the Kingfisher varies its food according to the localities it frequents, and although on the rivers its usual food consists of fish and water insects, on visiting the sea-shore it feeds on shrimps, &c., while our friend Mr. Gatcombe tells us that one was brought to him near Plymouth which had the stomach literally crammed with small crabs.

The following very interesting account of the habits of the Kingfisher is from the pen of Dr. Kiitter (Journ. f. Orn. 1866, p. 38). He says :—

“T have-often observed that this bird not only seizes insects when in want of its chief article of food or of the first food for its young, but also at other times, and I have proved this by examining the contents of the stomach out of the breeding season. It was, therefore, doubly interesting to me to see Heuglin’s notes in his work, in which he states that certain

of the African Kinefishers live entirely on such food. Our Kingfisher is not an unsociable bird, and I have sometimes observed one of these small feathered fishermen pass by the haunt of another without the latter even moving a wing, and I could be sure that they were not a pair belonging to each other. The usual breeding-time I have found to be April, May and June. Generally they have but one brood in the year, but if anything happens to the first the female not rarely has another,