HALCYON SACRA. 



different states of the bird, before it arrives at maturity, and are in accord- 

 ance with the changes that take place in different species from India and 

 Africa of nearly similar adult colours. Dr Latham's figure of Alcedo sacra 

 is evidently identical with the young figured on our Plate XCVII. The 

 Plate in Phillip's Botany Bay is also that of a young bird, and unless a 

 slight variation of size, we can find nothing to warrant a separation of the 

 synonyms we have quoted. 



The length of our New Holland specimens are from 8^ to 9 inches, 

 those in the young plumage slightly less than the others : the bill is deep 

 brownish-black, the basal half of the under mandible white, and in the 

 young of a pale reddish brown. In the adult, the blue parts of the bird 

 are a very clear greenish ultramarine, purest on the shoulders and rump, 

 on the outer edges of the quills and tail tinged with black ; an ochraceous 

 line extends from the nostrils to and over the eyes ; the space between the 

 eyes and the rictus, the auriculars, and a circle round the blue of the head, 

 black ; the nuchal collar and the throat are nearly pure white, and the 

 ochraceous colour commences on the breast, increasing in intensity, as it 

 reaches the vent and under the wings, and varying in shade in different 

 specimens ; the inner webs of the quills, and under side of the tail, are a 

 light black. 



In the young specimens, all the blue parts are of a dull greenish tinge, 

 on the forehead the feathers are nearly umber-brown, with the tips ochrace- 

 ous ; the shoulders and lesser wing-coverts are also tipt with ochraceous ; 

 the nuchal collar and under parts are dull ochraceous : the tips of the fea- 

 thers deep umber-brown, appearing more closely marked on the breast, 

 and varying in breadth and depth of shade according to the age of the 

 specimen. 



