1879.] MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE BIRDS OF LABUAN. 331 



that the hlue on the coverts and scapulars is not so hright. It is 

 obvious that the question can never be really settled till we have a 

 number of carefully sexed aud dated specimens ; and meanwhile it 

 may be remarked that great difficulties prevent the final acceptance 

 of the explanation of the plumages above given ; for if they are right 

 the females must be in the proportion of at least three to one, judging 

 from the collection now lying before me. Again, as to the fate of 

 C. rufidorsa (of which there are several specimens in Mr. Treacher's 

 collection agreeing exactly with another from Sumatra and another 

 from Malacca), the perfect gradation, as far as the Bornean speci- 

 mens are concerned, between C. rufidorsa and C. dillwynni, leaves no 

 doubt of the identity of these two species ; but then at present we 

 no evidence of the occurrence of C. dillwynni out of Borneo. Ceyx 

 rufidorsa from Malacca and Sumatra may either be a plumage of 

 C. tridactyla or C. dillwynni, or it may be a good and distinct bird. 

 This seems to be hardly likely ; and should it turn out that C. dill- 

 wynni is found in Malacca and that C. rufidorsa is really synonymous, 

 then the former name must be suppressed. 



Mr. Low procured three eggs of this species, along with a female 

 bird in the plumage of 0. sharpii, Salvad. As might be expected, 

 these eggs are pure glossy white, axis 0*75, diam, 0'6\ 



36. Halcyon coromanda (Lath.). 



Halcyon coromanda, Sharpe, Mongr. Alced. pi. 57. 



Halcyon lilacina, Motl. & Dillw. t. c. p. 13. 



Callialcyon coromanda, Salvad. t. c. p. 101. 



Not very common, according to Governor Ussher. Mr. Treacher 

 says it is also called " Bukaka," like the other kinds of Kingfishers. 



Mr. Low sends five eggs of this Kingfisher taken in Labuan in 

 May 1873 : they are pure white, axis 1"2-1"25 inches, diam. 1-15-1-2. 

 He'also adds the following note : — " Burong Sakak, the large red or 

 crimson Kingfisher. The nest is said to be pendulous and invariably 

 to be accompanied in the same mass by a bee which is peculiarly 

 vicious, so that the nest can only be robbed after destroying the bees; 

 in the case of these eggs they set fire to the whole, unluckily." The 

 nesting of this Kingfisher in a bee's nest seems to be a point of some 

 interest. 



37. Halcyon pileata (Bodd.). 



Halcyon pileata, Sharpe, Mongr. Alced. pi. 62. 



Entomobia pileata, Salvad. t. c. p. 102. 



Governor Ussher writes : — " In September 1876 I saw this King- 

 fisher in the swamp on the plain, and was near enough to distin- 

 guish the colours, but could not get a shot. There can be no doubt 

 as to the identity of the bird, as I have since obtained specimens. 

 It seems to leave in March or April." 



The native name given by Mr. Treacher and Mr. Low is " Bu- 

 kaka." The latter gentleman sends five eggs of this species from 

 Labuan ; they are pure white and rounded, axis 1*2, diam. TO. 



