296 A Contribution to Malayan Ornithology. [No. 4 r 



also black,* the sides of the chest are bright rufous. The measure- 

 ments perfectly agree with those given by J e r d o n. 



31. Halcyon Coromandelictjs, Scop. 

 J e r d o n B. India, I, p. 227. 



B 1 y t h (Ibis, 1866, II, p. 348) says that this species extends from 

 India to Japan, ' ' but the Japanese race is said to be rather small- 

 er and more deeply coloured." My collector shot one specimen in 

 the Wellesley Province, and this is remarkably smaller than the 

 Indian bird, even allowing something for immaturity. The lilac 

 gloss above is very slight, the band on the upper back and rump is 

 very narrow, pale bright blue, some of the lateral and terminal 

 feathers partially or wholly bright violet blue ; chin whitish rufes- 

 cent, the rest below rufous, deepest on the chest, and all the fea- 

 thers tipped dark brown, this color gradually disappearing towards 

 the vent ; front edge of wings fulvous ; wing only 4 inches ; tail 

 barely 2f" ; bill at front 2", from gape 2.V" ; tarsus T y. 



The bird is evidently a smaller Malayan race, like so many 

 others, but it is not on that account specifically distinct from the 

 Indian. 



32. Halcyon atricapillus, G m e 1. 



J e r d o n, B. Ind. I, p. 226 ; G o u 1 d, B. Asia, pt. XII. 



This species does not appear to be common in the Malay Penin- 

 sula. One specimen has the feathers on the sides of the breast 

 dark shafted, and those on the lower breast checkered with dark. 

 The rusty color on the sides and on the vent is very pale ; wing 

 only 5£ inches ; tail 3^" ; bill at front 2£", from gape 2f ". 



33. Halcyon ftjscus, B o d d. 



J e r d o n, B. Ind. I, p. 224 ; G o u 1 d, B. Asia, pt. XIII. 



One specimen, shot at Malacca, has only the chin pure white, 

 most of the other white feathers down the throat and the breast 

 are tipped with bluish and some also with brown ; the albescent 

 coloring is confined to the middle of the breast, and is not 

 so largely developed as usually seen in Bengal and other speci- 



*Sharpe, (Proc.) Z. S. L. 1868, p. 594-, says " Spot in front of the eye 

 &c. pale orange." This must occasionally become obsolete, for it does not 

 exist in several Malayan specimens. 



