( 96 ) 



VI. RALLIDAE. 

 3(1 Poliolimnas cinereus (Vieill.). 



We received one nude of this widespread littli^ rail, shot by Mr. Klilin on 

 Ohoitil, Little Key Islands, on February 5th, ISUS. 



37. Porzana tabuensis (fim.). 

 One /ma&, Teoor, 30. 1. Lsit'.). "Iris bright chocolate-brown, eyelid bright 

 vermilion. Feet blackish red-brown. Bill black." The locality is quite new. 

 Although this bird is very widely spread, it is evidently new to the Moluccau 

 subregion. 



38. Hypotaenidia philippensis (L.). 

 (J Toeal, Little Key, 16. U. 1897. 



39. Rallina tricolor Gray. 



We have received one male from Koer and two females from Kilsoein. These, 

 as well as one from Dammer in the Banda >Sea (see Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 22), are 

 very small, and very little barred on the abdomen. I am inclined to think that 

 they form a new subspecies, but one from North Queensland in the Tring Museum 

 is almost similar, and others vary individually. The question of the possible 

 distinctness of the South-East Islands and Dammer form must therefore for the 

 present remain undecided. 



VI. ALCEDINIDAE. 

 40. Alcedo ispida ispidoides Less. 



This form is absent from the Key Islands, according to our present knowledge ; 

 but Kiihu sent a. female from Teoor and a series from Ondor, Goram-laut, where 

 he found it common. He describes the iris as dark brown, the feet bright scarlet, 

 bill black, sometimes red at the base of the under bill. These latter individuals are 

 evidently the females. 



This is the form which I formerly called Alcedo ispida moluccana, but moluccatm 

 being a " nomen nudum," the name is/ddoides must be used. 



41. Ceyx lepida lepida Temm. 



The true lepida was found by Sir. Kiihu in\ Maar, near Ceram-laut, Manawoka in 

 the Goram group, and on Kisoei. The iris is described on the labels as dark brown, 

 the bill and feet as Ijrigbt vermilion. 



All these birds agree with Amboina specimens, and arc therefore t3'pical lepida, 

 this form having originally been described from Amboina. .Specimens from the 

 northern Moluccas, of which I have before me fifteen skins from Obi Major, Teruate, 

 Batjan, and Morty, differ in the following points : — 



The bill is generally slenderer, not so deep, the wing slightly shorter, the light 

 tips to the feathers of the pileum less cousj)icuous ; being not so light, the under- 

 surface inclines to be deejier rusty and the back is sometimes less bright. This form 



