no. 1.1.-7. KINGFISHER <;i:\i s in \n , n \ i.o <>\ OBEltHOLBBR. g^g 



as no one has yet obtained males of that form, final comparison Is, 

 of course, impossible; but so far as the females indicate, the principal 

 differences lie in the Lighter, Less uniform lower surface, and rather 

 more bluish back and wings of Ramphalcy 'on c. nesoeca. 



The most obvious distinctions between the present bird and Ram- 

 phalcyon capensis capensis are the former's much Larger size, and its 

 paler, brown-capped pileum, with Little or uo admixture of ochra- 

 ceous; but, in addition, the chin and upper throat are usually Less 

 contrasted with the remainder of the lower surface. The more 

 uniform under parts, the paler pileum. together with the much 

 brighter, deeper, and more bluish back, wing3, and tail, easily distin- 

 guish Ramphalcyon c. nesoeca from Ramphalcyon c. gurial; while 

 the darker, brighter, more bluish back, wings, and tail and somewhat 

 paler ventral aspect separate it from Ramphalcyon c. buvmanica. 



Two specimens, male and female, from Pulo Pinie. Batu Islands, 

 appeal' t<> belong to this form, although they are both rather Less 

 bluish above than Nias examples. This is possibly to be expected, as 

 indicating a tendency toward intergradation with Ramphalcyon c. 

 isoptera from the Pagi Islands; and the chain of evidence would 

 probably be complete were specimens at hand from the intervening 

 island-. 



As is evident from the measurements above given, there i- great 

 difference of size between the sexes in the present race. The contrast 

 in color i- quite a- marked, the female being very much duller and 

 Less bluish on upper back, wings, and tail. The divergence is con- 

 fined t<> these parts, however, for, as in all the other form-, the color 

 of the pileum and entire lower surface is apparently identical in 

 male and female. The series examined is very uniform, but in some 

 of the birds abrasion ha- somewhat Lightened the tone of the Lower 

 parts, and made considerable similar change on the pileum, while 

 the same influence ha- made the upper back. wine-, and tail rather 

 more bluish. 



The four forms of Ramphalcyon capensis that inhabit the islands 

 off the northwestern coast of Sumatra fall naturally into two divi- 

 sions, according to the general tone of the posterior upper surface, 

 but, strange to say. they do not in this respect correspond very well 

 to geographical considerations, for Ramphalcyon c. simalurensis and 



h'. c. isoptera from the Pagi Island.-, which are the two most widely 



separated, have dull greenish back, wine-, and tail: while the two 

 other race-. R. > . nesoeca, from Xi-as Island, and h\ c. sodalis (judg- 

 ing from it- female) have a much brighter, more bluish -hade on the 

 same part-. In most other character- the differences, considered geo- 

 graphically, are nearly a- peculiar. 



