INSESSORES. 



197 



appears to be rather an exception, as will appear from liis notes in our 

 article on that species. It may be stated generally, that these birds 

 do not capture fishes at all, nor do they show address and courage in 

 plunging into the water like nearly all the birds of this family, but 

 subsist mainly on the lower orders of animals, reptiles, Crustacea, and 

 insects. Some species, it is stated, live exclusively in the forest, with- 

 out even showing any considerable partiality for the vicinity of water. 



Our plate represents the adult male and young female of this species 

 of the natural size. 



3. TODIRAMPHUS YAGANS (Lessou). 



Alcedo vugans, Lesson, Voy. Coquille, ZooL I, p. 694 (1826). 

 Alcedo cyanea, Forsteb, Desc. Ad. p. 76 (1844). 



Voy. Erebus and Terror, Birds, Plate I ; Reichenbach, Birds, Plate 

 CCCCXIX, figs. 3138, 39. 



Numerous specimens of this species are in the collection, all of 

 which are from New Zealand. It is one of the handsomest of the birds 

 of this difficult group, and is one of the most easy to be recognized, 

 though presenting some sexual and other variations in plumage. It 

 appears to have been the only species of the Genus Todiramphus ob- 

 served by the naturalists of the Expedition to prey on fishes. 



Of this species, Mr. Peale observes : 



"In the recesses between the numerous promontories in the Bay of 

 Islands, extensive groves of trees [Ahiesenia toynentosa), may be seen 

 growing in the salt water, like mangroves, which are the resorts of 

 ducks, cormorants, and other water-fowl, when the tide rises suffi- 

 ciently to overflow the soil on which they grow. In such localities 

 we have seen the white-fronted Dacelo perched on a dead branch, 

 patiently watching the small fishes. It would plunge into the water, 

 seize and carry its struggling prey to the nearest branch, and there 

 swallow it whole, precisely in the same way and with as much skill as 

 a true kingfisher. At other times, we have followed and shot it in 

 retired forests, where its food was insects." 



In Dr. Pickering's notes we find the following in allusion to the pre- 

 sent species : 



50 



