﻿TANYSIPTERA EMILIA. 



(RAOU KINGFISHER.) 



T. affinis T. doridi sed paullo major: pileo et tectricibus alarum minoribus pulcbre argenteo-cyaneis : 

 caudae tecti-icibus albis, auguste nigricanti marginatis : tectricibus albis, augustissinie cyaneo marginatia. 



Hob. in insula " Raou" dicta maris moluccensis. 



Male. Entire head, which is much crested, and nape beautiful silvery cobalt; cheeks, 

 ear-coverts, back and sides of neck and the upper part of the back, black washed distinctly 

 with cobalt; in the middle of the back a large patch of white feathers ; scapulars very deep 

 ultramarine; least wing-coverts very brilliant silvery cobalt, the greater ones black 

 washed with dark ultramarine ; quills blackish brown, the inner web grey at the base, the 

 secondaries externally glossed with deep blue; lower part of the back, rump and upper 

 tail-coverts pure white, the latter indistinctly edged with greyish black, here and there 

 tinged with blue ; tail feathers pure white margined with blue which is the colour of the 

 narrow shaft to the spatula which is again pure white ; entire under-surface pure white, 

 mixed with blue on the under wing-coverts; bill red; feet olive-brown; nails fleshy brown. 

 Total length 14 inches, of bill from front 1*4, from gape 1*9, wing 4*3, tail 4 - 4, middle 

 rectrices 8*2, tarsus 0*6, middle toe 0*7, hind toe 0*4. 



Hah. Raou Island (Bernstein). 



This species was discovered by Dr. Bernstein in Raou and the only specimens known 

 are in the Leiden Museum. Professor Schlegel is inclined to refer them to T. doris, but 

 at the same time he marks the characters wherein the bird from Raou does not agree with 

 that from Morty Island. T. Emilice is certainly allied to T. doris, but differs in the much 

 brighter colour of the head and small wing-coverts, in the distinct cobalt lustre on the 

 cheeks and upper part of the back and in the very much narrower margins to the tail- 

 feathers : the nails also are of a pale flesh-colour, but I do not know if this is a permanent 

 character. Professor Schlegel has figured both this species and T. doris (s. n. T. sabrina) 

 in his beautiful work on Malayan Kingfishers (Vog. Ned Ind. Alced. pi. 14). 



I have named this species after my wife, who from the first has taken great interest 

 in the present work, and who, possessing a very good acquaintance with ornithology, lias 

 been no mean assistance in its preparation. For the opportunity of figuring the type- 

 specimen I am indebted to my kind friend Professor Schlegel, who lent it to me from the 

 Leiden Museum. 



