﻿GEYX OA JELL 



(BOURU KINGFISHER). 



Ceyx eajeli, . . Wall. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 25 pi. v. 



Dacelo .. . . ScM. Vqg. Ned. Ind. Alced. pp 39, 67, pi. 16 (1864). 



„ Ned. Tidschr. 1866, p. 339. 



C. capite nigro, cyaneo maculato : dorso postico et uropygio argenteo-cseruleis : rostro corallino, breviori : 

 genis et regione parotica nigris. 



Hab. in insula dicta ' Bouru' maris Celebensis. 



Crown of the head and wing- coverts black, with very minute spots of clear blue, each 

 feather having a central streak of brighter colour ; back silvery blue ; scapulars and tail 

 black; wing-feathers black, the inner web light reddish near the base; a loral spot light 

 orange ; a patch of feathers on each side of the neck white tinged with orange ; throat 

 white ; under-part light orange, deeper on the flanks ; a considerable patch of feathers on 

 the sides of the upper part of the breast, black; bill and feet pale coral red; eyes dark. 

 Total length, 5.5 inches, of bill from front 1.2, from gape 1.6, wing, 2.5, tail 1, tarsus 

 0.3, middle toe 0.9, hind toe 0.2. 



Hab. Bourn ( Wallace.) 



This interesting bird is one of the discoveries that we owe to the indefatigable 

 energy of Mr. Wallace, by whom it was first named in his paper on the ' Birds of Bouru,' 

 (I. c). It may easily be distinguished from all the other species of the genus by the very 

 small spots on the head, black cheeks, and the pecular silvery blue on the back. The bill 

 is also shorter and stouter than in any of the allied species. 



Mr. Wallace, savs : — 



" This species is very like C. lepida ; but differs in the very small spots on the head 

 and the stripe on the back being of quite a different blue colour, and also in the scapulars 

 being entirely black, whereas in the other species they are tipped with rich blue. I have 

 named this species after the town or fort of Cajeli in Bouru, to which island this pretty 

 bird is most probably strictly confined." 



I am further indebted to Mr. Wallace for the following note, which he has kindly for- 

 warded to me for the present work ; — 



; ' Ceyx cajeli inhabits swampy thickets in Bouru, feeding on water-insects and 

 minute fish, which it captures in pools and ditches." 



Schlegel (I.e.) says he has received the present species from Matabello and the Sula 

 Islands, collected by Rosenberg, but I have not seen specimens, and it seems doubtful 

 whether a variety of lc]>i<la has not been mistaken for this bird in the former instance, 

 while the bird from the Sula Islands is certainly quite different. 



The figures represented in the plate are drawn from the type specimen, kindly lent 

 me by Mr. Wallace, from which also I have taken my description and measurements. 



