1897.) Birds of New Guinea. 205 
gration bent. It is of a social disposition congregating together 
at all times like swallows and making nests in holes along 
river banks after the manner of the Hirundinidx. Here in the 
sand excavations without soft nesting materials, five or six 
white eggs are laid. Although the bird is a pronounced bee- 
eater, its diet is not so limited as not to include other insects 
as well. 
This species is of elegant form, slender and smooth-feathered. 
Light green, blue, black and saffron brown are the intermingled 
colors. From the fan-shaped tail project straight out two black 
quill shafts, an inch or more from the middle feathers, terminat- 
ing in small spatulas. Herein lies the particular feature of this 
pretty bird. The long, sharp black bill with its curving line 
of beauty adds another element to make it as Mr. Wallace 
found years ago, “one of the most graceful and interesting 
objects a naturalist can see for the first time.” 
On the head plays an exquisite shade of brown extending 
down the neck. A similar tint lines the under side of the 
Wings as well. The under parts are a vivid green approaching 
to light blue on the abdomen, but on the sides a spot or two of 
black may be traced. Blue of a decided depth covers the lower 
back, rump and throat. The wings above are of the same 
color as the under parts, becoming brown to dusky on the 
scapulars and secondaries. So varied is the coloration and so 
delicate the blending that the most elaborate description would 
not exhaust the catalogue of charms. Yet the bird after all 
is easily identified, besides being common in museums and of 
wide distribution. Moreover it is not of shy habits but may 
frequently be seen darting forth from some twig after the man- 
ner of flycatchers in pursuit of insects, but little disturbed by 
the notice its graceful motions have excited. Length about 
7 inches. 
An exceedingly abundant bird in New Guinea, Queensland 
and everywhere in Malaysia is the Glossy Starling—Calornis 
metallica (Temminck). D’Albertis speaks of these starlings as 
flying in myriads over his house on Yule Island in J une, at that 
time probably pursuing their migratory instincts which, how- 
ever, in these low latitudes mean little more than a trip across 
