216 Journal of ihe F.M.S Museums. [Vol. X, 



2. Halcyon coromanda minor (Tcmm. & Sclil.) 



This is recognised as inhabiting Borneo with various 

 coastal islands, and also Singapore. Pontianak is selected 

 as the typical locality. 



It is a darker bird, particularly below and also mucli 

 more washed with magenta on head and upper parts 

 generally] : it is also smaller, the w'ings ranging from 99 to 

 104 mm. I Five adult specimens examined by Oberholser, 

 three from Borneo, two from Singapore]. 



We have no examples of West Sumatran birds which 

 are named by Oberholser coromanda neophora (type 

 locality, Tapanuli Bay, Western Sumatra, opposite Nias Id.) : 

 they are characterised as being like c. coromanda, but 

 smaller ; lower parts darker and breast Jiiore washed with 

 magenta, wings 100 111 mm. [Five practically adult 

 specimens examined by Oberholser, two only from Western 

 Sumatra]. The habitat is given as Sumatra ; and probably 

 Banka Id. This race appears on the characters given to be 

 very like minor, but a little larger [and perhaps paler 

 above] : but Obserholser's material was small in both cases. 



It has already been pointed out' that all Sumatran birds 

 are not neophora ; four examples from Deli in the North- 

 east of Sumatra being undoul)te<lly c. coromanda, (though 

 Oberholser regards his only specimen from N. E. Sumatra, 

 a juvenile female from Aru Bay, a little to the north of 

 Deli, as neophora) . This is not surprising as birds taken 

 on Pulau Jarak, the Aroa Islands and the One-fathom Bank 

 LightJiouse in the Straits of Malacca are c. coromanda and 

 it is highly improbable that they were resident on any of 

 these places. 



Thus the range of c. coromanda must be extended to 

 North-east Sumatra. 



To the distribution area of minor must be added 

 Johore, birds from the south of that State being indistin- 

 guishable from those of Singapore Island adjticent.^ 



The wing measurements of our specimens are : — 



H. c. coromanda : — 



Malay Peninsula, Langkawi and Terutau Ids. 



(8 spnis.) .. .. .. 105— 116 mm. 



vStraits of Malacca (17 spnis.) .. .. 112—118 „ 



North-east Sumatra (4 spnis.) . . . . 110 — 117 „ 



H. c. minor : — 



Borneo (2 spnis.) . . . . . . 100—102 „ 



Sins^apore (4 spms.) . . . . . . 102 — 104 „ 



Johore (4 spnis.) .. .. ..103—111 „ 



Dr. Oberholser's measurements for the wings of his 

 two topotypes of neophora are ; $ 100, ? vix ad. Ill mm. 



' Ilulcijon coromanda coromanda Robinson & Kloss, Journ. 

 Straits Branch Hoy. Asiat. Soc. No. 80. 1919, p. 87. 



' Harlert has alreacb stated that birds from the southern part 

 of the Malay Peninsula are minor (Yog. pal. Fauna, II, 1912, p. 887). 



