Letters, Extracts, Notices, S^c. 405 



exam i nation with a leus in order to insure a correct deter- 

 mination, 



A very large series of specimens of this Kingfisher was 

 collected by the Steere expedition^ and on our second trip 

 to the Philippines we on one occasion shot thirteen speci- 

 mens of the species in question in a single mornings so that 

 we do not feel that there is much room for mistake. 



It is worthy of note in this connection that the aUied 

 species, Ceyx 7iigrirostris, which inhabits Panay, Negros, and 

 Cebu, shows the same differences between the sexes. 



We are pleased to note that Mr. Ogilvie Grant agrees 

 with our own previously expressed opinion (' Preliminary 

 Notes on the Birds and Mammals of the Menage Expedition/ 

 p. 48j Dec. 8_, 1894) that Ceyx steerii, Sharpe, and the species 

 under discussion are identical. 



We are also glad to note that Mr. Hargitt and Mr. 

 Ogilvie Grant both agree with us as to the distinctness of 

 lyngipicus maculatus and /. validirostris, as well as to the 

 propriety of applying the latter title to the Luzon bird. 

 The points of difference between the two species were recog- 

 nized by Dr. Steere, who named the species correctly, and 

 were given by us in detail on page 51 of the paper above 

 referred to. After reading Mr. Grant's description of JEtho- 

 pyga flavipectus and examining the fine plate in ' The Ibis ' 

 for January, we are forced to the conclusion that it is 

 identical with our jEthupyya uninuta from Mindoro, the type 

 specimen of which was unfortunately stolen. Mr. Grant's 

 description antedates ours by some weeks, and his title will 

 of course take precedence. 



It is to be hoped that Mr. Whitehead, while investigating 

 the mountain fauna of the Philippines, will not neglect 

 Mt. Ilalcon in Mindoro. Should he visit the latter island 

 we can promise him that if he will ascend the river which 

 connects Naujan Lake with the sea he will get specimens 

 enough to satisfy him as to the identity of Ceyx cyanopectus 

 and C. philippinensis in one day. 



We hope he may also obtain more specimens of the 

 beautiful little xEihopyiia of the island than wc were able to 



