54 



THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



a longitudinal median patch on the basal part of the inner web ; chin, throat, and sides 

 of breast and vent dull black, remaining under-parts white ; under wing and tail-coverts 

 black with steel blue-black gloss; the anterior portion of under tail-coverts black with 

 white apical margins ; bill black ; feet brownish. 



Male (121) exactly like, but the white spots on the second and third tail-feathers 

 more restricted. 



The tips of the wings extend beyond the end of the tail about 1 4 lines ; the tail is 

 entire. 



The New Caledonian bird (Collocalia leucopygia, Wall., Proc. Zool. Soc, 1863, 

 p. 384) seems to differ, as we learn from M. Verreaux's original description (Collocalia 

 linchi, Verr. et Des Murs, Rev. et Mag. Zool., 1862, p. 129), specifically in the rachis 

 of the rump-feathers being black, and in the want of the white spot on the inner web of 

 the second and third tail-feathers. 



3. Halcyon julke, Heine. 



Sauropatis julice, Heine, J. f. 0., 1860, p. 184. 



Halcyon j id) w, Sharpe, Mon. Kingf., p. 227, tab. 86 ; Tristram, Ibis, 1876, p. 260; Finsch, 



Proc. Zool. Soc., 1877, p. 739. 

 Dacelo grayi, Sehleg., Mus. P. B. Alced. (1863), p. 37. 

 Halcyon sacra, P. and H, Orn. Central-Polyn., p. 32 (spec, ex New Hebrides and New Ireland? 



p. 34). 



[No. 117. Api. Female. Eyes black; upper mandible black, lower flesh-colour ; 

 legs greyish ; the stomach contaiued insects, and a small molluscous shell.] 



When placed among an extensive series of Halcyon sacra, this specimen seemed to 

 be nothing more than a dull- coloured specimen of that species, having the greenish shine 

 of the back exactly the same as in No. 7 (from Tongatabu) ; but the same dull green also 

 prevails on the head ; and this would form the only mark of distinction. The rufous 

 band round the head is not so developed as in Sharpe's plate ; there is only a buff 

 supercilium ; and the head-band is only indicated by some buff feathers ; the neck-collar 

 is white, not buff; the black band which runs from beneath the eyes round the hind 

 neck is very narrow. 



A specimen in the Bremen Museum, said to be from New Ireland (procured from Mi- 

 Frank), and described by us (I.e.) as Halcyon sacra, agrees perfectly with Sharpe's plate, 

 and may be considered to be also Halcyon julice. 



