ORB. IJVSESSOMES, 



TRIBE FISSIROSTRES 



FA 31. HALCYONID.F. Sw. 



GEN. CEYX. 



PLATE XXV. 



CEYX TRIDACTYLA. 



PURPLE 3 TOED KINGFISHER. 



Synon.— -d tridactyla, L. Latham and Shaw (in part). C. tridactyla, Sykes Cat., not of 

 Jardine and Selby. A erithaca var. (apud Shaw) and Ked-headed Kingfisher, var. A. 

 of Latham. A purpurea, Auct., Buffon P. E. 7T8.2, Ceyx pu7pweus, Juesson. Ceyx 

 microsoma Burton P. Z. S., Jerdon Cat. No. 246. 



The genus Ceyx was instituted by Lacepede for the 3 toed Kingfishers which 

 form a small and beautiful group. The synonymy of the species however is involved in 

 some obscurity, different names having been even recently applied to the same species by 

 different authors. The description of the A. tridactyla of Linnaeus (in Latham and Shaw) 

 appears to correspond as nearly as possible with the bird figured here, but the name tridac- 

 tyla has been applied by Jardine and Selby in their Illustrations of Ornithology pi. 55.2, 

 to another species, which is decidedly the A.Madagascariensis of L., as described by Latham, 

 and which is figured in the same plate of the Planches Enluminees of Buffon as our present, 

 species. If Latham and Shaw are correct in their descriptions, and have faithfully followed 

 Linnffius, there can I think be little doubt of the synonymy I have adopted, as I do not 

 think it probable that Linneeus would have described the same bird under two different 

 names ; but if these authors have misplaced the original descriptions, then the rufous species 

 will stand as tridactyla, with Madagascariensis as a synonym, and our bird will be C. pur- 

 piireus (Gmel.j, unless, Scopoli in the scientific names he has applied to the Birds described 



