HALCYON cinnamominus. 

 Cinnamon Crabeater. 



Generic Character. — See PI. 26. 



Specific Character. 



H. cceruleo riridis ; pileo, collo, plumesque totis suhtus paUide ci/mamo- 

 miftis ; auribus viridihus ; nucha torque nigra gracili ornatd. 



Blue-green; upper part of the head, neck, and all beneath, pale 

 cinnamon colour; ears green; round the nape a slender black 

 collar. 



As far as I can ascertain, this beautifully coloured bird is 

 quite new, and hitherto undescribed. It is in the possession 

 of Mr. Leadbeater, of Brewer Street, by whom it was re- 

 ceived from New Zealand ; and who gave me the opportunity 

 of now publishing the accompanying figure and description. 



The two extreme points of difference in the Linnsean 

 kingfishers, are seen in the Alcedo Ispida, and A. gigantia ; 

 the last of which has been made into the genus Dacelo. It 

 will, nevertheless, be found, that from among the birds left 

 in the old genus, there are a great number, (of which, 

 indeed, this bird is a striking example,) which are much 

 nearer allied to Dacelo than to Alcedo, where they now 

 stand. It will appear, therefore, more natural to consider 

 Halci/oii and Dacelo as one genus — which may be called 

 by either name, but which must be distinguished by the 

 characters herein given to Halcyon, inasmuch as the generic 

 definition oi Dacelo (founded on one bird) will be found too 

 restricted to comprehend all. 



Total length ten inches ; bill two and a half from the gape, 

 and one and a half from the nostrils ; the tip of the upper 

 mandible with a slight inclination downwards, and with an 

 appearance of a notch; the whole head, neck, and under 

 plumage, of a delicate fawn colour ; under wing covers the 

 same ; the remaining upper plumage, with the wings and tail, 

 changeable blue green ; ears sea green and dusky, united to 

 a narrow black nuchal collar; wings four inches long, and 

 the tail, which is even, three and a quarter ; the hind head is 

 slightly crested, and the feet pale brown. 



PI. 67. 



