Australian Birds in the Collection of the Linnean Society. 907 
fuscum, mandibula inferiori basi pallida. Longitudo cor- 
poris, T}; rostri ad frontem, 155, ad rictum, 112; ale a 
carpo ad remigem secundam, 314; caude, 243, ; tarsi, 4. 
If the several birds, which have been described as varieties of 
the A/cedo sacra of Gmelin, be actually found to belong to that 
species, our bird may probably be added to the list. We have 
however much doubt of their being mere varieties. In the spe- 
cies of Kingsfishers which have been well ascertained, we find 
little variation of plumage; and we seldom observe such an 
extensive geographical distribution among them as is assigned 
to the Alcedo sacra. The various groups of this family more- 
over approach so nearly to each other in their characters, 
particularly in the distribution of their colours, that we need 
not be surprised at finding that most of the Kingsfishers of 
the islands of the Indian Ocean bear a general resemblance to 
each other, so as to appear at first sight varieties of one species. 
We have not i lei PR to enable us to come 
n s ect: thai ji mined on the 
spot. But with respeit to our New Holland Bird; we consider our- 
selves justified in keeping it distinct from the sacred Kingsfisher, 
until at least some strong grounds are advanced to prove it the 
same. It differs both from Dr. Latham's and Gmelin's original 
descriptions of Alcedo sacra, which were taken from a bird 
belonging to the Friendly Islands, by having a conspicuous 
collar round the neck; by the under parts being yellowish- 
— white, varied with ferruginous and undulated with slight fuscous 
fascie, instead of being pure white; and by having a black 
streak running. longitudinally before and behind the eye, with a 
black collar margining the hind part of the head, and a conspi- 
cuous white spot adjoining this collar on the occiput. The Alcedo 
| sacra, moreover, is described as being more than nine inches in 
length, Gmelin making it nine and a half, while our bird scarcely 
exceeds 
