202 BULLETIN 186, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Gyldenstolpe observes that it is a shy and retiring species, haunting 

 creeks and small rivers, the banks of which are densely overgrown 

 with evergreen forest or scrub. 



The female had the irides brown ; the bill, feet, and toes brick red. 



The adult has the center of the lower back and rump opalescent 

 white, tinged with pale blue; the remaining upperparts chestnut- 

 rufous, everywhere more or less glossed with violet; the underparts 

 light orange-rufous, more or less albescent on chin, throat, and center 

 of abdomen. 



HALCYON SMYRNENSIS PERPULCHRA von Madarasz 



Malayan White-breasted Kingfisher 



Halcyon perpulchra von Madarasz, Ann. Hist.-Nat. Mus. Nat. Hungarici, vol. 2, 

 1904, pp. 85-86 (Singapore Island). 



Halcyon smymensis fusca, Gyldenstolpe, Journ. Nat. Hist. Soc. Siam, 1915, 

 p. 231 (listed); Ibis, 1920, p. 589 ("Throughout the whole country").— 

 de Schauensee, Proc. Acad. Nat Sci. Philadelphia, 1928, p. 572 (Chiang 

 Mai) ; 1929, p. 573 (Chiang Mai) ; 1934, p. 262 (Chiang Mai).— Deignan, 

 Journ. Siam Soc. Nat. Hist. Suppl., 1931, p. 162 (Chiang Mai) ; 1936, pp. 

 92, 133 (Chiang Mai, Mae Ping river north of the Gorges). — Riley, U. S. 

 Nat. Mus. Bull. 172, 1938, p. 176 (Mae Suya valley). 



With the exception of Alcedo a. bengalensis, this is the commonest 

 and most generally distributed kingfisher of our area ; specimens have 

 been taken at numerous localities in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, 

 Chiang Rai, and Nan, and the bird is certain to occur in the remaining 

 provinces. On Doi Suthep it follows the larger streams up the slopes 

 for only a few hundred feet, but on Doi Ang Ka it is found as high 

 as 4,400 feet in the deforested valley below Pha Mon. At Chiang 

 Mai it was the only member of its family observed in every month 

 of the year, but its numbers were much decreased in April and May. 



This species is almost as common in the more open pa daeng and over 

 dry fields as it is in the neighborhood of water, and it is constantly to 

 be seen perched upon fences and telegraph poles beside the public 

 ways. The loud, cackling call is a familiar sound in the environs 

 of our towns ; it is usually delivered while the bird rests upon a dead 

 branch near the top of some high tree, but I have also heard it uttered 

 by individuals in flight at a great altitude. 



I have a very young juvenile from Phu Het, June 8, and Eisenhofer 

 took a similar bird at Khun Tan, June 10. Older juveniles have been 

 collected at Chiang Mai, July 6 and August 10. 



My most worn example was taken August 13, while the one in fresh- 

 est plumage was collected January 21. All specimens shot between 

 September 26 and November 5 are in molt. 



Nonbreeding adults had the irides brown; the bill deep red, pur- 

 plish brown at the tip and along the edges of the maxilla; the in- 



