Mr. J. Gould on a neic Kingfisher. 271 



In this specimen the contour of tlie combined frontals, parie- 

 tals, and supraoccipitals resembles the general contour of the 

 bones composing the so-called malar in the most remarkable 

 manner ; only in this fine cranium they are altogether more 

 elongated in proportion to their width than they are in it ; 

 and, besides, in the former the outer margins of the frontals 

 are parallel, or nearly so, while in the so-called malar the 

 frontals considerably widen anteriorly. Now in Anthraco- 

 saurun this is precisely the case ; and though in our specimen 

 of this Labyrinthodont, described in the paper before referred 

 to, the frontals are a little larger than those of the so- 

 called malar, they agree with them exactly in form and pro- 

 portion. Tliis is sufficiently evident, notwithstanding that 

 they arc not quite perfect. Moreover the surface-sculp- 

 tm*e of the bone in Anthracosaurns is veiy similar to that 

 represented in Mr. Dinning's draAving ; and, indeed, Mr, Din- 

 ning says that the surface-sculpture in the two is exactly the 

 same. 



We can therefore have little difficulty in concluding that 

 this so-called reptilian malar is really a considerable portion 

 of the upper central bones of the cranium oi Antliracosaurus. 

 It was found in the same locality that supplied our specimen 

 of this Labyrinthodont, and not very long before it occmTcd. 



XXXII. — Description of Ceryle Sharpii, a new Kingfisher 

 from the Gaboon. By John Gould, F.E.S. 



I HAVE long had in my collection a specimen of this King- 

 fisher, which is closely allied to the well-kno"\vn Ceryle maxima^ 

 but presents certain striking points of difference. In the first 

 place, it is somewhat smaller, and has the crest almost unspotted 

 and the back entirely so. The principal difterence, liowever, 

 is in the colouring of the abdomen. In Ceryle nuijcinia this is 

 white, with a few bars of slaty black on the flanks, while the 

 under tail- coverts are pure white ; but in the new species the 

 abdomen and under tail-coverts are slaty black profusely 

 banded with Avhite. Again, the imder wing-coverts are thickly 

 banded with black bars, whereas in C. nuucima they are pui'e 

 white. 



I think tliere can be no doubt as to the distinctness of the 



})resent species, which I propose to call Ceryle Sharj}ii\ in 

 lonour of Mr. Sharpe, who is now engaged on a monograph 

 of this fine group of birds. 



19* 



