554 VISCOUNT WALDEN ON BIRDS FROM TENASSERIM. [Nov. 22, 



lity, but are never found occurring in specimens from one and the 

 same locality. 

 » 



2. Halcyon smyrnensis, (Linn.). 



Alcedo smyrnensis, Linn. S. N. ed. 12. 1766, i. p. 181. no. 11. 



Nos. 9, 12. Port Blair, Andamans. 



No. 9 specimen has the bill half an inch shorter than that of 

 no. 12, and yet does not exhibit any traces of adolescent plumage. 

 The bill of no. 12 specimen is much stouter and longer than that of 

 any one of a large series of Ceylon, Camboja, and Central Indian 

 specimens ; but does not exceed that of some collected in Candeish. 

 In colour and its distribution I can detect no distinction between it 

 and the specimens I have mentioned. Variation in the depth of 

 the chestnut-brown plumage is to be found in all specimens, but this 

 variation appears to be consequent on the age of the bird. Relying 

 on the opinion of Mr. Strickland, I have not separated the South 

 Asiatic from the West Asiatic forms. 



3, TODIRAMPHUS COLLARIS, (Scop.)? 



Alcedo collaris, Scop. Del. Flor. et Faun. Insub. ii. (1786) p. 90. 

 no. 56 ? 



No. 11. Andamans. 



A single specimen of what I believe to be the same as the Bengal 

 and Malayan form has been sent from the Andaman Islands. The 

 group of local species, of which it forms one, has yet to be worked 

 out. Temporarily I follow Messrs. Jerdon and Blyth in referring 

 the Indian and Malayan race to Scopoli's species, although it must 

 prove eventually to be distinct ; for Scopoli's A. collaris was founded 

 on Sonnerat's Martin-pecheur a collier blanc des Philippines. Al- 

 cedo chloris, Bodd., founded on Buffon's 783rd plate, would take 

 precedence of Scopoli's designation, could the origin of Buffon's type 

 be shown. Buffou tells us that it is the same as a species seen by 

 Commerson in the island of Bouru, and described by him. If so, 

 A. chloris, Bodd., must belong to the Bouru form, and anyhow takes 

 precedence of A. chlorocephalus, Gm., likewise founded on Buffon's 

 783rd plate. A Bouru specimen in my collection differs widely from 

 the Andaman specimen sent. If the Philippine species does prove 

 to be distinct from the Bengal and Malayan bird, this last will re- 

 quire another title ; and that of occipitalis, Blyth (J. A. S. B. 

 1846, p. 23), given by that author to young examples from the Nico- 

 bars, may perhaps have to be adopted, unless the Nicobars do 

 possess a race deserving of specific distinction ; for, although Mr. 

 Blyth at a later date (Cat. Mus. A. S. Bengal) cancelled the species, 

 according to him it does vary, both in the young and adult state, 

 from the common Bengal bird. If this variation be found to be 

 constant, the Bengal and Malayan will require another name. I 

 prefer following the majority of ornithologists in retaining this species 

 in Lesson's genus rather than separating it under Dr. Cabanis's 

 generic title Sauropatis. 



