﻿TODIEHAMPHUS RECURVIROSTRIS. 



(FLAT-BILLED KINGFISHER.) 



Todirhamphus reeurvirostris 

 Coporhamphus reeurvirostris 

 Halcyon reeurvirostris .... 

 Halcyon platyrostris ..... 

 Todirhamphus platyrostris .... 

 Dacelo minima ..... 

 Tiacalla, of the Natives of Upolu (Graffe). 



T. vii'idis : torque collari fulvo : subtus fulvus. 



Lafr. Eev. Zool. 1842, p. 134. 



Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. th. EE, p. 160 (1860). 



Finsch & Hartl. Faun. Centr. Polyn. p. 41 (1867). 



Gould, P. Z. S. 1842, p. 72. 



Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. I, p. 156 (1850). 



Peale, U. S. Expl. Exp. p. 159, pi. 145 (1848). 



Hah. in insulis " Samoa" dictis maris Pacifici. 



Upper surface of the body bright blueish-grcen ; lores and a very distinct eyebrow 

 white tinged with buff ; a nuchal patch of feathers buffy white ; a broad collar round the 

 neck buff ; quills black, buffy white at the base, externally edged with blueish-green ; tail 

 blue above, black beneath; throat white, extending down on to the breast; breast rich buff; 

 bill black, yellow at the base of the under mandible; feet reddish brown. Total length 6 5 

 inches, of bill from front l - 35, from gape 1"65, wing 3*3, tail 1*5, tarsus 0*4, middle toe 

 0*6, hind toe 025. 



Hah. Samoa or Navigator's Islands 5 Upolu {Peale, Graffe). 



Mr. Gould and Baron de Lafresnaye both described this species in the year 1842, but 

 the latter gentleman's name has priority by one month. Its range seems to be restricted 

 to the group of the Samoa or Navigator's Islands, having been brought thence recently by 

 Dr. Graffe, who has been collecting in this locality for Mr. J. Cesar Godeffroy, of Hamburg. 



In colour the present species is a diminutive representation of the well-known Halcyon 

 sanctns, and like that .species appears to vary in the blue and green tints of its plumage 

 according to sex and age. The curious flat bill, however, separates it generically from all 

 the green group of the genus Halcyon. 



Additional references. — Todirhamphus reeurvirostris, Eeich. Ilandb. Alced. p. 35 (1851); Cass. Cat. Halo. 

 Phil. Mus. p. 11 (1852), et TJ. S. Expl. Exp. pp. 198, 216, pi. xvii (1858). Halcyon pla/yroxlris, Graj', Gen. of 

 B. I, p- 79 (1846) ; id. Cat. Fiss Brit. Mus. p. 58 (1848) ; id. Cat. B. Trop. Isl. Pacif. Oo. p. 6 (1859). Dacelo 

 minima, Hartl. Arcliiv. f. Naturg. 1852, p. 111. 



