and Description of Birds from the Island vf Jaia. 173 



** Rostro lreviore, culmine rotundato. 

 Martin-chasseur Le Vail/ant*. 



* The birds of this section differ from those of the first, in having a dilated or swelled 

 bill, of light consistence, large at the base, and gradually tapering towards the extre- 

 mity, which is moderately compressed. The upper mandible is e\ en, or slightly grooved 

 from the nares to the point. The back {admen) is rounded ; not prominent 

 as in the species belonging to the first section (sans arrete z'nc, Tenmi.), and die extre- 

 mity of the upper mandible forms a cavity fur the reception of the lower. 



The lower mandible is depressed at the base, swelled towards the middle, then gra- 

 dually attenuated to a point, which is acute and somewhat smaller than the upper ; so 

 that when the bill is closed the sides are completely received within iti> margin. The 

 cutting edges (tomia) of both mandibles are sharp ; those of the upper are slightly curve d 

 or cut out towards the extremity ; those of the lower are nearly straight. The upper 

 mandible is slightly bent downwards near the point or tip, while the lower inclines 

 upwards in a small degree. 



The nostrils are basal, small, oblong, naked, having inferiorly a somewhnt oblique 

 aperture, while the upper portion is closed by a small membrane covered with plumes. 



This section of the genus Alcedo (to the individuals of which the denomination of 

 JLntomothertz " Chasseurs" may be applied) holds a situation intermediate between 

 Alcedo and Dacelo. The preceding remarks show its difference from the first section. 

 Dacelo has a thicker, stronger and more dilated beak, which does not exceed the head 

 in length. The cutting-edges towards the extremity take a bold curve upwards, are 

 deeply cut out, and the tip of the back (admen) is lengthened beyond the curvature of 

 the edges, abruptly truncated, and terminated by a small notch. The lower mandible 

 is considerably swelled ; the margin is not straight, as in the section of Entomothercc, 

 but curved upwards in conformity to the upper mandible. These characters are di- 

 stinctly observed as well in the gigantic Kingsfisher from New Holland, as in a beau- 

 tiful new species described in this paper under the name of Dacelo pulchella. It is re- 

 markable that, although these two species differ greatly in size and in brilliancy of colours, 

 the general distribution of the marks which form the specific character is the same. The 

 forehead and crown are circumscribed by the lateral parts of the head and a posterior 

 collar. The under parts in both are uniform ; the wings above and the tail are trans- 

 versely banded. In all the individuals of both the sections of the genus Alcedo that I 

 have examined the colouring is more or less widely diffused in spots (macula, plaga, &c), 

 or is exhibited in slight undulations, while transverse bands appear to be characteristic 

 of the species of Dacelo. 



Spec. 



