(J. cKvx. 175 



(1883) ; Snlmd. Ann. Mas. Civ. Genov. (2) iv. p. 5.37 (1887), vii. 



p. 433(1889: Malewonn); Hume. Sti: F. xi. p. 45 (1888 : Mani- 



pur) ; Oates, ed. Humes Nests ^ Egc)s Ind. B. 'in. p. 13 (1890). 

 Cevx purpurea, Less. Trnite. p. .38 (1831) ; Reiihenb. Handb., Alced. 



p. 9, Taf. 398. fio'. 3071 (1851) ; Bj}. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 9 (1854); 



Hartl. J.f. O. 18.")5, p. 423. 

 Ceyx luicrosoma, Burton, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 89. 

 Ceyx ervthaca, Bli/tk, Cat. B. Mus. As. Snc. p. .50 (1849). 

 Daoelo rubra, tScIil. Mus. Pat/s-Bas, Alced. p. 49 (18(33) ; id. Vug. 



Kederl. Ind., Alced. pp. 40, 68, pi. IG. fig. 2 (1864). 



Ailnlt male. General colour above black, washed with purplish 

 blue or deep ultramarine on the mantle and scapulars ; lower back, 

 rump, and upper tail-coverts red washed with beautiful lilac : wiug- 

 coverts black, edged with blue on the margins, the bend of the wing 

 rufous ; bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and quills blackish, the 

 inner secondaries washed with blue, the first primary edged with 

 rufous externally ; tail-feathers cinnamon-rufous ; crown of head 

 rufous, washed with beautiful lilac ; on the forehead a spot of blue ; 

 lores rather more orange-rufous ; in front of the eye a dusky Vdackish 

 spot; eyelid also blackish ; ear-coverts and checks deep orange-yellow, 

 with a spot of bright ultramarine behind the ear-coverts, followed 

 by a band of yellowish white on the sides of the neck ; throat white, 

 tinged with yellow ; lower throat, fore neck, and rest of under 

 surface of body orange-yellow, deeper in colour on the sides of body 

 and flanks ; thighs, under tail-coverts, under wing-coverts, and 

 axillarics orange yellow ; quills below blackish, rufescent along the 

 inner edge : " bill and feet bright vermilion red ; iris brown " {W. 

 Davison). Total length 5'5 inches, culmen 1'35, wing 2-15, tail 0-9, 

 tarsus 0'25. 



Adult female. Similar to the male in colour. Total length 5"6 

 inches, culmen 1'35, wing 2'2.5. 



Young. Similar to the adults, but with a shorter and paler bill, 

 the latter dusky at the base of both the upper and lower mandibles ; 

 the blue frontal spot, as well as the blue spot on the neck, are both 

 equally as brilliant as in the fully adult bird, also the lilac colour on 

 the head and back. The mantle and scapulars are black, with a very 

 slight wash of ultramarine, and the same is the case with the wing- 

 coverts, but in other respects the nestling is as brilliantly coloured as 

 the old birds, and is even brighter below, the throat being yellow, 

 and the breast and sides of body washed with deep orange-rufous, 

 almost chestnut in tint. 



Hah. Ceylon and Southern India ; Himalayas from Nopal east- 

 wards to Assam, Manipur, and the Burmese Provinces, southwards 

 through the Malayan Peninsula. 



a,h,c. Ad.; d, Ceylon [H. Xeiillufid 8. Cftaji- Tweeddale Coll. 



p. Juv. sk. man), 



f. Ad. sk . Nuwara Eliya, Ceylon. Mr. E. Boate [C.]. 



y. S ad. sk. Divelane Tank, Cevlon, Oct, G. Col. W. V. Legge 



[P.J. 

 /;, (. Ad. sk. Nep.ll. Ilodg.-ion Coll. 



