208 Mr. ViGORs's and Dr. Horstield's Description of the 



exceeds seven inches. Of all the alleged varieties of the sacred 

 K/ngsfisher the bird before us comes nearest to the description of 

 those which are said to be found in New Zealand. 



Genus. Ceyx. Lacepede. 

 1. Azure A. C. saturate azurea, corpore subtus lorisqne flaves- 



centibus, lateinbus colli macula obliqua albù. Lath. 

 Alcedo azurea. Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp. p. xxxii. 

 Alcedo azurea. Swains. Zool. Ilhist. pi. 26. Lewin, Birds of 

 N. IIoll.p.5.pl. 1. 

 Mr. Caley thus observes upon this bird in his manuscripts. 

 " I have never noticed this species leaving the salt water beyond 

 the distance of two hundred yards, and seldom so far. It in- 

 habits the harbour of Port Jackson, particularly the upper parts 

 of the branches or creeks. Some birds have the breast con- 

 siderably more red than others. I have met with what I con- 

 sidered to be the same species in a brushy creek at Western 

 Port. I never saw it alight in trees." 



Fam. Meropidte. 



Genus. Merops. Linn. 



1. Melanurus. M. viridis, tœnià ante postqiie oculos lunula 

 peclorali remiguni apicibus caudaque nigris, occipite i^emigi- 

 busque castancis, gula Jîavâ, tœniâ suboculari uropygio crisso- 

 que cœruleis. 



Rostrum nigrum. Rcmiginn externarum pogonia extima viridia. 

 Cauda nigra, rectricibus duabus mediis lonoissimis ; harum 

 pogoniis utrinque, primœque pogonio externo viridi-margi- 

 natis. Longitudo corporis ab apice rostri ad apicem medioe 

 rectricis, 10, ad apicem rectricis extimœ, 8 ; ahe a carpo ad 

 remigem primam, 4^ ; cauda, 5 ; rostri ad frontem, 1^, 

 ad rictum, 14- ; tarsi, f. 



In 



