6 4



THE SACRED KINGFISHER.


Sir, —In Dr. Simpson’s notes on the Balham Show, he writes thus:—-

“A very remarkable bird was the Sacred Kingfisher, a bird wdiose un¬

obtrusive brown plumage formed a curious contrast with a pair of

wonderful deep-blue eyes.”


That Halcyon saneta should thus be described, appears to me at least

remarkable, considering that its plumage is deep-blue (which in certain

lights appears green) and buff ; and its eyes are a dark brown.


The only bird of this species shewn at Balham belonged to me; and,

for reasons which I explained in a foot-note in last mouth’s issue, this bird

did not arrive at the Show until the evening of the opening day, and, I

believe, long after Dr. Simpson had left. I can only imagine, therefore, that

he had in mind, when writing this description, Mr. Fulljames’ Bower Bird,

which was in the greenish-brown plumage of the female and immature

male, and which species has blue eyes. I think that this explanation is

uecessarv, as it is surely rather hard upon the brilliant Sacred Kingfisher

to describe its plumage as “ unobtrusive brown.” D. Seth-Smith,



[The mistake which seems to have so mystified Mr. Seth-Smith, is

very easily explained. My note referred to Ho. 5^?, described in the cata¬

logue as a Sacred Kingfisher.—C. S. S.]



THE BLEEDING-HEART PIGEON.


Sir,—N oting what Mr. Seth-Smith rightly states respecting the

colour of the eyes in the Satin Bower-bird (of which I have had a healthy

pair since the iStli September last) it occurs to me that I have not put on

record the fact that the eyes of the Bleeding-Heart Pigeon are not brown,

as described, but are reddish plum-coloured. My hen died just after her

moult, and I examined the eyes immediately after death. A. G. BuTEER.



