Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 259 



Peking, that I was wrong in referring them to this species. I am 

 now willing to admit that the Russian ornithologists were right 

 in identifying them with C. riparia (Linn.). The immature state 

 of my Peking specimen led to this mistake; but I have lately 

 submitted my Formosan and Peking skins to Mr. G. R. Gray, and 

 he confirms my present opinion. 



19. Halcyon coromandelianus (Scop.). 



Alcedo coromanda, Lath. 



A specimen of this was brought to me from the interior, of 

 which the upper parts were orange-ochre, washed with a beau- 

 tiful tint of lilac-pink; rump with a central streak of bluish 

 white. Under parts jfine orange-buflF, whitish on throat and 

 belly. Bill and feet red-lead ; claws orange-ochre, brownish on 

 their sides. 



Length 9 in.; wing 5 ; tail 2^. Bill from rictus to tip 2 j^ in. 



This beautiful species, which, strange enough, I never met with 

 in China, is recorded from India, the Tenasserim, Sumatra, 

 Borneo, and Japan, everywhere varying in size, length of wing, 

 brilliancy of lilac tints, and size of the azure marking on the 

 rump. In my specimen this last is reduced to a simple central 

 line ; but this I have also observed in specimens from other 

 parts. Of the small Sumatran and Bornean variety Bonaparte has 

 made his species H. lilacina (the H. coromanda minor, Schleg.), 

 length of wing 4 inches ; of the Japanese variety (the H. coro- 

 manda major, Schleg.), H. schlegeli, length of wing 4|. But in 

 oiir Formosan variety, which in local position is intermediate to 

 the two, the wing is 5 inches. Further, the extent of this limb 

 varies considerably in a series of skins which I have examined 

 from Hindostan. 



This species appears to be resident in Formosa, inhabiting the 

 lakes and rivers of the interior of the island, but is by no means 

 common. 



The Coromandel Halcyon would appear, then, in these eastern 

 regions to confine itself entirely to the islands, it never having 

 yet been observed on the main of China, where its place is 

 supplied by H. smyrnensis, L., and H. atricapillus, Gmel., the 

 easternmost range of these two last being bounded by the coast- 



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