G. CH^TUKA. 471 



western parts, the Malayan and Papuan region to Australia (at 

 least on migration), Tropical Africa, and nearly the whole of 

 America except the most southern part. Eggs invariably white. 



Key to the Species *. 



a. No white band across the breast. 



a'. Large, wing about 7 to 8 inches ; chin and 

 throat pure white. 

 a". Small white band across the forehead . . caitdacuta, p. 47:2. 



b" . Without white on the forehead iiudipes, p. 474. 



h'. Size similar ; chin and throat not white, 

 c". Above and below steel-blue, back with 



purple gloss celebensis, p. 476. 



d". Lower surface smoky brown, back paler, 

 a'". No white spot between the lores and 



nostrils gigantea, p. 475. 



h'". White spots between the lores and 



nostrils indica, p. 475. 



c'. Smaller ; above metallic glossy blue ; no 

 white on the rump. 

 e". Greater under wing-coverts pure white. . picbict, p. 487. 

 f". Under wing-coverts glossy gi-eenish .... novce-ginnete, p. 487 

 d'. Smaller ; lower abdomen, rump, under and 



upper tail-coverts white witli dark .shafts . sabinei, p. 487. 

 e' . Smaller ; white baud across the rump. 

 g". White band on the rump broad ; lower 



surface only with the anal region white . Kssheri, p. 488. 

 k". White band narrow, crossing the upper 

 tail-coverts ; entire abdomen white. 



c'". Wing about 6 inches or more cassi7ii, p. 488. 



d"'. Wing about 5 inches boehmi, p. 489. 



i" . Band across the rump, lower abdomen 

 and lower tail-coverts white ; altogether 



a much smaller bird sylvatica, p. 489. 



f. Of smaller size ; rump paler or darker brown 

 or grey. 

 k". Lower surface black. 



e'". Entire lower surface glossy bluish 

 black ; upper tail-coverts grey with 



black shafts leucopygialis, p. 490. 



f". Entirely glossy blackish above and 

 below, except tail, upper and under 

 tail-coverts, which are pale ashy 



brown poliura, p. 484. 



I". Lower surface greyish brown with dark 



shaft-stripes grandidieri, p. 489. 



m". Lower surface more or less brown or 

 greyish, without shaft-stripes. 

 g'". Throat distinctly paler than the ab- 

 domen. 



* Some forms, of which I have not been able to examine specimens or which 

 are rather doubtful, are mentioned at the end of this genus. 



