76 VISCOUNT "WALDEN ON THE BIEDS OF CELEBES. 



(I. c.) of the probable cause of the error is most likely correct. Yet it must be borne 

 in mind that Labillardiere never set foot on the island of Celebes proper ; nor does 

 Entrecasteaux's expedition appear to have had any direct communication with that 

 island on either of the occasions of its presence in the Moluccas. On its way from 

 Bouru to Sourabaya, in October 1793, the expedition, after failing in its attempt to pass 

 the Straits of Tioro, occupied several days in passing those of Boeton, and remained a 

 day at the town of Boeton itself. During this period the French naturalist made 

 several excursions on shore, and, as he particularly mentions, in the island of Pangasane, 

 and one, of two hoiu's' duration, in the neighboiu'hood of the town of Boeton. It is 

 most probable therefore that this fonn of Streptocitt^ was obtained either on the island 

 of Pangasane or of Boeton ; for the expedition did not touch the mainland of Celebes, 

 nor at the island of Saleyer when passing the straits of that name. 



I identify the species which inhabits the district of Macassar with Labillardiere's bird, 

 because it best agrees with his short description. By him the bill is stated to be " of a 

 light black from the root to within one third of the point, the remainder is yellowish." 

 This and the green hue of the black portion of the plumage easily distinguish the 

 South from the North Celebean species. The bill is also more slender than that of the 

 following species. 



108. Steeptocitta toequata (Temm.), Nouv. Eec. 75*'^"<^ Hvr. PL Col. 444, " Celebes " 

 (Jan. 5, 1828); G. R. Gray, Birds Trop. Isl. p. 25. 



Hah. Menado (Mus. nostr.). 



I quite agree with Mr. G. R. Gray in regarding this form as specifically distinct from 

 the true S. caledonica, from which it differs by its strong, jet-black bill, and by having 

 the black portions of its plumage glossed with dark blue. Mr. G. R. Gray {I. c.) states 

 that the actual individual from which Temminck's figiu'e was drawn is in the British 

 Museum. 



In this species the first quUl is barely one inch long ; the fourth and fifth are nearly 

 equal, the fifth being slightly the longest ; the third is somewhat shorter than the 

 fourth ; the second still a little shorter than the third. The wing measures 5^ inches. 

 The second pair of rectrices exceeds the first by f of an inch ; the thii'd the second by 

 1^ ; the fourth the third by If ; the fifth the fourth by If ; and the sixth, or middle 

 pair, the fifth by 2f ; the total length of the middle pair is llf ; bill from nostril f of 

 an inch ; tarsus If. 



Temminck's surmise that this species occurs in Borneo has not been, as yet, 

 realized. 



Professor Schlegel has generically separated his Charitornis albertince from Strepto- 

 citta ; but it is difficult to seize the characters wherein it generically differs. The 

 structure of the wings, tail, and feet is identical. The colouring of the plumage is 

 congeneric. The nostrils are similar in form and position. The bill differs in being 



