1874.] OjM MEGAPODIUS TRINKUTENSIS. 289 



upper tail-coverts, rich copper-colour ; first three primaries above dark slate-grey, the remainder 

 washed with green ; rectrices above green, with a ciipreous tinge ; under tail-coverts chocolate. 



Wing 8-50 inches, tail o'oO, bill from forehead 1-25, tarsus 1, middle toe with claw 1-90. 



Described from a male example obtained in the Tojian islands, Celebes, by Dr. Bernhard 

 Meyer. 



It is a representative form of C, imulina, but differs by being copper-coloured instead of 

 green ; its dimensions are also less. 



Alcedo beavani. 



At page 487* of the twelfth volume of this Journal I described as new, under the title of 

 Alcedo rufirjastra, a species of Kingfisher of which examples had been sent to me from the 

 Andaman Islands. A specimen obtained by the late Captain Beavan in Maunbhoom, on 

 comparison, proved to be identical (' Ibis,' 1874, p. 136)f . But as no such species had been 

 procured on the Indian continent by any other collector, it occurred to me that Captain Beavan's 

 specimen had become separated from his Andaman collection, and had accidentally acquired an 

 erroneous locality. This conclusion subsequent discoveries now convince me was erroneous, and 

 I unwittingly did injustice to my late friend's proverbial accuracy. I have since obtained 

 examples from Assam. It has, I believe, been found at the foot of the Himalayas ; and Mr. Ball 

 writes to me that it has occurred in the Eajmehal hills, and he believes that it has also been 

 obtained in Cuttack. Its claims to rank as a species belonging to the Indian continent is therefore 

 established ; and I wish, by changing the hybrid title of rvjigastra to that of heavani, to 

 commemorate the original discoverer of this species. 



On Megapodius trinkutensis, Sharpe. By Arthur, Viscount Walden, P.Z.S. A.M.N. H. 



[From the ' Annals and Magazine of Natural History,' ser. 4, vol. xiv., August 1874.] p. 163. 



In the ' Annals ' of this year (xiii. p. 448), Mr. Sharpe described a Megapode from Trinkut island 

 (Nicobars) as belonging to a species distinct from Megapodius nicobarieusis, Blyth. 



At least four of the islands composing the Nicobar group are inhabited by a species of 

 Megapode ; but as Mr. Blyth did not record the name of the island which furnished him with 

 the type of his species, it is impossible to say which is the habitat of M. nicobanensis A 

 considerable series of individuals has recently reached me — consisting of six males, four females, 

 and one unsexed from Camorta island, nine males, four females, and two unsexed from "* 

 Nangcowry island, two males, three females, and one unsexed from Katschal island, and seven 

 males, seven females, and one unsexed from Trinkut island ; and they all belong to one species. 

 Every phase of plumage is represented ; and several of the Trinkut examples exhibit the French- 

 grey tinge on the throat and sides of neck, as do some, but not all, from each of the other islands. 

 Megapodius trinkutensis must therefore be regarded as equal to M. nicobariensis. 



* [Antea, p. 252.— Ed.] t [Anted, p. 260.— Ed.] 



