238 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



Oenus Halcyon. 

 All Africa; from Palestine to Manchuria and South Japan, 

 Indian and Australian Regions. A very large genus. 



Key to the Species. 



Head black, crown deep ultramarine blue. H. macleayi. 



Head green, streaked with white. H. pyrrhopygius. 

 Head greenish blue. 



Length 8 inches. Australia. H. sanctus. 



Length 8.5 inches. Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands. H. vagans. 

 Head dusky olive-green. 



Length 8.5, bill 1.6, wing 3.7, tail 2.4. H. sordidus. 



Nuchal band and all under surface white. H. westralasianus. 



The Forest Kingfisher. 



Halcyon macleayi. 



North-west Australia, Northern Territory, South-east New Guinea, 

 through Queensland to New South Wales. 



The upper surface of different shades of blue; sides of face and ear- 

 coverts black; a large white supra-loral spot, and a broad white collar 

 in the male only round the hind neck; cheeks and under surfaces white. 

 Total length 7 inches, culmen 1.7, wing 3.7, tail 2.3, tarsus .45. 



The Red-backed Kingfisher. 



Halcyon pyrrhopygius. 



Australia generally. 



The upper surfaces of shades of green; head and scapulars streaked 

 with white; back from mantle downwards orange-rufous; a streak of 

 white over the eye, widening out to encircle the back of the occiput; 

 ear-coverts black, and a black collar round the hind neck followed by a 

 broad white one; under surfaces white. Total length 8.5 inches, culmen 

 1.7, wing 3.85, tail 2.7, tarsus .6. 



The Sacred Kingfisher. 



Halcyon sanctus. 



Australia and Tasmania, New Hebrides, through New Guinea to 

 Sumatra. 



Head greenish blue; mantle green; back and tail blue; lores, sides of 

 face and ear-coverts black, with a black band round the nape; a broad 

 buff collar round the hind neck; under surfaces ochreous buff. Total 

 length 7.5 inches, culmen 1.6, wing 3.75, tail 2.4, tarsus .45. 



H. vagans, Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands and New Zealand, 

 is like H. sanctus but larger, 8.5 inches, duller above and 

 brighter below. 



