( 160 ) 



43. Tanysiptera dea acis AVall. 



This is tlie racket-tailed kingfisher (if the island of Burn. Connt Salvadori 

 has nuited this form most wrongly with T. dea den, from which it differs very 

 much, as described by one of lis in Nov. Zool. 19t>0, p. 233. It is much nearer 

 related to T. dea margarethae, from which it differs merely by its black (not bine) 

 ear-coverts and sides of the head, slightly larger size, somewhat less purplish 

 crown, and mure rusty buff underside when immature. The bufi' on the underside 

 seems oidy to be absent in fnlly adult birds. We have received two fully adult, 

 one immature, and one ipiite young bird from Burn (Nov. Zool. I'JOO, p. 233). 

 Dr. Sharpe {('at. B. Brit. Miis. XVII. p. 305) has rightly kept this form separated, 

 but he did not place it in a natural jiosition, because it is most closely allied to 

 margarethae , and not to hydrochari.<i or ellioti, between which two it stands in the 

 Catalogue of Birds. 



44. Tanysiptera dea obiensis Salvad. 



Evidently nearest allied to T. d. mnrgaretliae, but easily distinguishable by its 

 brilliant glossy cobalt-blue crown without a distinct lighter border and lesser npper 

 wing-coverts, these feathers having a lighter blue mesial line. Bill strong and long. 

 Back dull blue-black. Rectrices white, with a more or less wide, dull blue border 

 to the outer webs, and sometimes a very narrow border to the tips of the inner 

 webs, central rectrices blue with white rackets and generally more or less white, 

 in form of very variable, irregular patches, on the basal third or half Only known 

 from the Obi group, central Moluccas. 



We have a fine series, namely : — 



9 S ad., 4 ? ad., 4 jnv. Obi Major (W. Doherty coll.). " Iris deep brown. Feet 

 brownish-green. Bill deep vermilion." 



4 c? ad., 3 ? ad., 1 S juv. Obi Major (H. Guillemard and Powell coll.). 



2 c?? Bisa Island (H. Guillemard coll.). 



45. Tanysiptera dea hydrocharis Gray. 



Although easily distinguishable from all its allies, we consider that hydrocharis 

 is also a subspecies of dea. There is no new or remarkable feature to separate it 

 by. It agrees most with acis .and margarethae, but differs in its dwarfed size, very 

 deep bine lesser upper wing-coverts, and blue-black lateral rectrices without any 

 white. The crown is very deep blue, encircled with a lighter blue line. This form 

 is only known from the Aru Islands. 



We have the following skins : — 



2 ad., 1 juv. Wanambai, Am Islands (Capt. Cayley Webster coll.). 



iS ad. Wokan, Aru (H. Kiihn coll.). '' Iris coffee-brown. Feet jmle greenish- 

 grey. Bill coral-red." 



4(i. Tanysiptera dea galatea Gray. 



This form has the crown and nape brilliant ultramarine-blue without distinct 

 lighter bine edges. Sides of head and ear-coverts deep blackish-blue, not black. 

 Back deep blue. Central rectrices blue, rackets white. 



