﻿HALCYON NIGRO-CYANE A. 



(BLACK AND BLUE KINGFISHER.) 



Halcyon nigro-cyanea . Wall. P.Z.S. 1862, p. 165, pi. xix ; Gray, Hand], of B. I, p. 93 (1869). 

 Dacelo nigro-cyanea . Schl. Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk. Ill, p. 250 (1865). 



H. pileo saturate ultramarino : interscapulio et scapularibus nigerrimis : dorse- postico et uropygio lastissim h 

 cyaneis : gutture et torque pectorali albis : corpore reliquo subtus saturate ultramarino. Fern, supra mari similis 

 sed subtus alba, torque lata pectorali ultramarina. 



Hob. in parte septentrionali Novae Guineas occidentalis. 



Male. Head intense ultramarine, brighter on the sides, a line of brilliant ultramarine 

 commencing at the back of each eye and encircling the nape ; middle of the back and 

 scapulars deep velvety black, a blue lustre being apparent here and there on the latter ; 

 wing-coverts deep ultramarine, the innermost greater coverts more brilliant, inclining to 

 cobalt ; quills black, the outer web washed with deep ultramarine ; lower portion of the 

 back and rump brilliant cobalt ; upper tail-coverts deep ultramarine ; tail deep ultramarine 

 above, black beneath ; cheeks and ear-coverts jet black; chin dusky black ; throat and a 

 narrow band across the centre of the breast, white ; rest of the under surface of the body 

 deep ultramarine, becoming black on the sides of the body and lower abdomen ; under 

 wing-coverts black ; bill black, yellow at the extreme base ; feet black. Total length 8*5 

 inches, of bill from front 1'9, from gape 23, wing 3*5, tail 2*8, tarsus - 5, middle toe 0*8, 

 hind toe 0*3. 



Female. Upper surface as in the male; entire under surface white, with the exception 

 of a broad pectoral band of deep ultramarine; sides of the body black; under wing-coverts 

 black, some white; bill black, with more yellow on the basal portion of the lower mandible 

 than the male. Total length 9 inches, of bill from front T9, from gape 2 - 25, wing 3*6, tail 

 2'8, tarsus 0*5, middle toe 0*8, hind toe 0*3. 



Hab. North-Western part of New Guinea (Wallace, Bernstein). 



This very beautiful species was first obtained in New Guinea by Mr. Wallace, who, 

 however, only obtained the female bird. A full account of the male was given more 

 recently by Professor Schlegel (7.c), and by his kindness I am able to give a figure of this 

 sex from a specimen lent me by him from the Leiden Museum. 



Nothing has yet been recorded concerning its habits. 



The upper figure in the plate represents the type which has been kindly lent me by 

 Mr. Wallace. This is the identical specimen figured in the " Proceedings." The nearer bird 

 is the male specimen lent me by Professor Schlegel. The descriptions and measurements 

 are taken from the same birds. 



