( 158 ) 



Raon, or Rjui, between Morty ami the north point of HalmaUera. We have no 

 specimen of this either. 



37. Tanysiptera sabrina doris Wall. 



Differs from the other two forms of T. sabrina by its almost entirely bine tail, 

 brownisli-black wings and scapulars, and the bine-black hindneck. The colour of 

 the crown apjiears to be intermediate between that of the other two forms. 

 T. s. doris inhabits Morty, the northernmost island of the Moluccas. 



We have the following six specimens :— 



4 adults (Dnmas coll.). 



1 jnv. (Dnmas coll.). 



1 adult (Wallace coll.). 



The reason for which we have separated the three forms of 7'. sabrina from 

 the T. (lea group of forms, is the conspicuous white u])per back found in all three. 

 Professor Schlegel, it is true, asserted that among his l(i specimens of T. sabrina 

 sabrina there were some which showed little trace of this white patch, and one 

 where it was entirely absent. These, however, have been examined by Dr. Sbarpe; 

 and the specimen in which the white i)atch was quite absent, was found to have 

 had the feathers of the middle back wholly removed, either by shot or otherwise; 

 those with only traces of the white are young birds. Our young bird of doris has 

 no white upper back, Imt a patch of buff spots. 



38. Tanysiptera dea dea (L.). 



This form is fonud on Amboina and Ceram, and on some of the South-East 

 Islands. It is characterised by the blue hind-neck and back, formed by the tips of 

 the feathers, of which the basal two-thirds are of a blackish blue. 



AVe have the following 11 specimens : — 



1 Amboina, 1883 (from Dr. GuUlemard's coll.). 



5 c?, 2 ? ad. Manawoka, Goram Group (H. Kiihn coll.). 



2 S jun. nnderside buff, Goram Island (H. Kiihn coll.). 

 1 sex doubtful, Manawoka (11. Kiihn coll.). 



BIr. Kiihn describes the iris as dark coffee-brown, the feet as ochreous (appear 

 black in skin), the bill as coral-red. 



39. Tanysiptera dea riedeli Verr. 



This lovely form is evidently the nearest in colouration to T. dea dea, although its 

 " habitat" is far away from that of the latter. It inhabits the Schouten Islands in 

 Geelvink Bay. The chief difference is that the crown, nape, hindneck and upper 

 back are all of a beautiful, very light, almost silvery blue, the basal two-thirds of 

 these feathers being bla(-kish blue. This silvery blue colour extcuids also on to the 

 wing-covcrts. The remainder of the npiierside is brighter blue than in dcu. 



We have 8 specimens, namely, 4 c?, 3 ?, from Biak (W. Doherty coll.), and 

 1 (J from Korrido (W. Doherty coll.). " Iris deep brown ; feet pale brownish ; 

 claws darker; bill scarlet. 



