352 MR. R. B, SHARPE ON THE GENUS ALCYONE. [May 13, 
Having already (P. Z. 8.1868, p. 587) treated of the genus Ceyz, 
I propose in the present paper to discuss the genus Alcyone, which 
has only three toes, and is otherwise closely allied to Ceyx. The 
genus Alcyone was founded in 1837 by Swainson (Classif. of Birds, 
il, p. 336), and at present contains seven species. 
The two most distinct and clearly characterized are Aleyone pusilla 
and A. eyanopectus; but the other five are very closely allied and 
hard to distinguish. I believe that the following synoptic table will 
materially assist in their identification :— 
A. Torque pectorali lazulino .cs..sscscsscsssereessscensveeeesveene L, A, cyanopectus. 
B. Torque pectorali nullo. 
a. Abdomine rufo, 
a. Rostro robustiore. 
a”, Supra saturate ultramarina............00. 2. A, lessoni. 
o”. Supra leetissime ultramarina ........... 3. A. affinis. 
’. Rostro tenuiore. 
a’. Rostro breviore: pileo nigro indistincte 
LiRTO EON i boondsdebegbamaaticeencboa -obdcns 4, A. diemensis, 
6”, Rostro longiore: pileo haud fasciato. 
a”, Wypochondriis rufis .............4. 5. A. azurea. 
o/’, Hypochondriis pulcherrime ul- 
tramarinis ...... Acecet gente o- 6. A, pulchra. 
Br AbAOMMe ADO) iateat sees neanetc eae ssa ecaenaneean tM as 7. A. pusilla. 
The first on the above list, Alcyone cyanopectus, serves to connect 
the genus Alecyone with Ceyz, as it is very closely allied to Ceywx 
philippinensis, Gould; and, on the other hand, another link is dis- 
covered in Aleyone pusilla and Ceyx solitaria, both of which species 
are closely allied. The principal difference between the genera Ceyzx 
and Aleyone is in their habits. Whereas the Ceyces are almost 
entirely insectivorous, the members of the genus Alcyone feed almost 
entirely on fish. The geographical distribution of each genus is also 
in favour of their direct affinity. Ceyw is an Indian genus strictly 
speaking, extending all over the Indian peninsula and Malayasia, 
being also distributed over the Malay archipelago, where, how- 
ever, a different form of the genus (with bright blue back) is met 
with. On the other hand, Aleyone is essentially a typical Austra- 
lasian genus, being widely distributed over the whole Australian 
continent, and thence extending northwards, through the Austro- 
Malayan subregion, to the Philippines. In these islands the aber- 
rant species Aleyone cyanopectus occurs; and in every respect as 
regards plumage this species is a true Ceyx. In form of bill, how- 
ever, it is an Aleyone—although, but for the distinct pectoral band 
and blue flanks, it might be mistaken for Ceya philippinensis. My 
friend Dr. Salvadori has written to me, calling in question the pro- 
priety of my placing this latter bird in the genus Ceyr; but in my 
opinion the species really belongs here. <Aleyone eyanopectus should 
probably also be included in the genus Ceyz as an aberrant species 
forming the point of union between the two genera, and I should 
not be at all surprised to find this view adopted by some future 
systematist. But no satisfactory conclusion can be obtained until we 
know more of the habits and geographical distribution of these two 
