g58 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxxv. 



almost conclusively that all, with the possible exception of Ramphal- 

 cyon gigantea, are best treated as subspecies of Ramphalcyon capensis 

 (=fraseri). a It is true, of course, that birds like Ramphalcyon 

 javana {=leucocephala) and R. gouldi are veiy different from R. 

 gurial and R. malaccensis, but R. intermedia and 7?. capensis so com- 

 pletely bridge this gap that there is nothing to do but to call them all 

 subspecies. As with some other kingfishers, altogether too little ac- 

 count has been taken of individual, of seasonal, age, and sexual varia- 

 tion, for some of the supposedly distinct species, even though sep- 

 arated by water, will be found on comparison of a sufficient series to 

 differ by only average characters. 



Individual variation, however, is not unusually great, except in a 

 few of the races, such as. Ramphalcyon capensis capensis, in which 

 it produces birds both with or without a brown cap. The individual 

 color variation affects principally the depth of shade on the pileum 

 and lower surface, and the tint of back, scapulars, and wings. The 

 effect of wear is most seen on the pileum. which often is thus made 

 much paler; other parts are sometimes appreciably, but rarely much, 

 altered by the same influence, the lower surface paling, the back and 

 wings becoming more bluish. 



The notable difference that exists between the sexes is one of the 

 most interesting points brought out by the present investigation, for 

 almost all writers unite in considering the male and female practi- 

 cally alike. As a matter of fact, however, the female is nearly always 

 decidedly larger, and has back and wings, sometimes tail as well, 

 duller and more brownish or greenish. These differences are very 

 great and constant in some subspecies, much less and not trenchant 

 in others, but the females are nearly always distinguishable by color, 

 or at least by size. 



Immature birds are duller, more brownish or greenish on the back 

 and wings than adults, the males, in this condition resembling adult 

 females. Other indications of immaturity are broad buff or ochra- 

 ceous edgings on the wing-coverts, and numerous conspicuous black- 

 ish margins on the feathers of the breast and jugulum. Neither of 

 these, however, is an infallible criterion — although the latter com- 

 monly passes as such- -for both appear sometimes on freshly molted 

 birds that bear every other indication of maturity. It seems, how- 

 ever, that these edgings on both breast and wing-coverts are much 

 les< numerous and conspicuous on mature individuals, possibly are 

 altogether absent on very old birds, and at any rate probably soon 

 disappear under abrasion. 



This species, Ramphalcyon capensis, has a wide range, for it extends 

 from Ceylon. India, and Burma to Cochin China, the Philippine 



°Cf. Hartert, Nov. Zool., IX, 1902, pp. 202-203. 



