﻿Young. Similar to the adult, but the colours more tinged with brown on the upper 

 surface ; the breast crossed by an irregular band of brown feathers varied with white. 



Another specimen, apparently a still younger bird, is dull brown above, with a tinge of 

 green on the sides and back of the head and with a bronzy gloss on the crown ; the wing- 

 coverts narrowly edged with yellowish brown, and the band across the breast very distinet 

 and not varied with white. 



Hah. Society Islands: Otaheite (Forster), Huaheine (Forster), Raiatea (Forster), Otaha 

 (Forster), Borabora {Lesson). 



Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub consider the Alcedo tuta of Gmelin (ex Latham's " Respected 

 Kingfisher") to be the same as this species, but I think in this they are not quite 

 correct, for I believe that the bird I have described as Todirhamphus tutus is really Latham's 

 species. 



As with the other allied Kingfishers, the utmost confusion exists as to the true habitat of 

 the present bird. Latham gives the locality whence his specimens were obtained as 

 " Apye," in the Society Islands. This place is not mentioned on any of the maps I have 

 examined, unless Hapai in the Friendly Islands is intended. Again the Vienna Museum 

 possesses a specimen marked as coming from New Caledonia, given to the Novara 

 Expedition by Dr. Deplanche, a resident in Papeete, a town of Otaheite. Some mistake has 

 probably occurred, for I much doubt if the species is ever found in New Caledonia, and in 

 this M. Jules Verreaux, who has perhaps examined more birds from this locality than any 

 living Ornithologist, tells me that he has never heard of its being met with there. 



I believe, therefore, that the present species is confined to the Society Islands, and 

 certainly further reliable information is required before this range can be extended. 



Herr Zelebor, the Naturalist accompanying the late Novara Expedition, says that in 

 Otaheite this bird is regarded as sacred by the inhabitants, who call it Bum. The note is 

 described by him as follows: — " Zak-zak-sak-sak-arr-arr!'' 



Mr. Peale (I.e.), writing of the species observed by him in Otaheite, remarks: — 



" In the secluded valleys, the dead silence which generally prevailed was now and 

 then disturbed by the garrulity of a homely bird, the subject of our present description, as 

 it flew from one dead tree to another, where, watching for its prey which consists of insects, 

 it is usually silent.'' 



The descriptions are taken from specimens kindly lent to me from the Vienna Museum 

 by Herr von Pelzeln, the well-known Director of the Imperial Cabinet. I have great 

 pleasure in returning my best thanks to him for sending the specimens to England for 

 description. The same birds are figured in the plate, the third bird being in my own 



collection. 



