1872.] ON THE BIRDS OF CELEBES. 191 



p. 250, 1811), founded on C. magnirostris. Lath., is synonymous, not with Esacus, but with 

 (Edicnemus, over with generic title it takes priority. 



The name magnirostris, GeofFroy, seems to have been an unpublished museum title. I can 

 find no earlier description of the species than that of Vieillot's {I. c), who adopted the name 

 from the Paris Museum. 



Temminck figured (Z. <?.) a Celebean example collected by Reinwardt ; but he united with 

 it as belonging to one species individuals from India, Java, and les ties Fapous. The Celebean 

 bird in size, he observes, holds a middle place between the Indian and the Papuan, the last 

 being the largest and having the plumage very dark-coloured. Tlie Indian E. recurvirostris 

 (Cuv.) is a recognized species ; but may not the Celebean bird prove to be a species distinct from 

 the Australian % Professor Schlegel unites the archipelagic with the Australian ; but have they 

 been compared \ 



HiMANTOPUs, Brisson. 



145. HiMAXTOPUS LEUCOCEPHALUS, Gould, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 26, " Australia, Java, Sumatra ; " 

 Birds Austr. vi. pi. 24 ; Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Scolopaces, p. lOG ; coiif. Blyth, Ibis, 1865, 

 p. 35. 



Ilab. Gorontalo, October 9 {Forsten) ; Ayer-pannas, August 14 ; Limbotto, August 29 ; 

 Wawou, a few days old, August 27 {Bosenherg) ; Bengal (//. intermcdivs, Blyth, J. A. S. B.I; 

 Cat. Mus. Calc. no. 1573); rare in India, J. A. S. B. 1845, p. 459 {Blyth); Java, Borneo, rp 7 «, - 

 Amboyna, Ternate, Sumbawa, Timor, Lobo (New Guinea) {Mus. Lugd.) ; Australia {Gould). p. 92. 



EALLID^. 



PoKPHYKio, Brisson. 



146. PoRPiiTRio iNDicus, Horsf Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 194, "Java" (1822, read ISth of 

 April 1820) ; Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Ralli, p. 55; Finsch & Hartl. Faun. Ceutialpolyn. Aves, 

 p. 170, pi. xii. f. 2. 



Porphyrio smaragdimts, Temm. PI. Col. 421, "Java" (February 1827). 



Ilah. Macassar, Menado (mws. «-o.s!?r.) ; Tondano, 21st of April {Forsten); Gorontalo, 18th 

 of April, 24th of May, 2Gth of June; Ayer-pannas, 11th of August {Von Bosenberg); Java 

 {type); Ceram, Bouru (if «<s. Lugd.); Banda {G. B. Gray); Sumatra {Cassin); Samoa Islands 

 {Peale). 



The absolute identity of the race of purple Coots inhabiting the islands above cited has yet 

 to be established. To the Ceram race Temminck applied the title of melanopiterus ; that of 

 Samoa has received the designation of samoensis, Peale. It is true that the late Mr. Cassin 

 could detect no difference between the Samoan and the Javan Porphyrio ; and Messrs. Finsch 

 and Hartlaub (/. c.) agree in uniting them. On the other hand. Professor Schlegel has observed 

 slight distinctions between the individuals inhabiting Java, Celebes, and Ceram. I have not been 

 able to compare a sufficient series in full plumage to form a decided opinion. But Celebean 

 birds appear to have the throat, upper breast, and shoulder-coverts of a much richer and deeper 



2 c 2 



