206 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



Of this species, we have seen only a single specimen which is in 

 nearly adult plumage, and is labelled as from the Island of Timor. It 

 is very nearly related to T. cJdoris, from which in fact it is difficult to 

 distinguish it by any other character than its white superciliary stripe. 

 We copy the description of the young bird from that by Mr. Blyth, as 

 above cited, though all the characters are to be seen in the present 

 specimen, though but faintly marked. 



Our plate represents this bird of the size of life. 



3. TODIKAMPHUS TUTA [Gm.). 



AlcriJo tufa et sacra, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. T, p. 45.S (1788); Lesson, Voy. Coquille, 

 Zoologie, I, p. 686, and Mem, Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris, III, p. 421, PI. XI (1827). 



Ah-edo vencrnta, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 453 ; Pelzeln, Sitzungs Akad. Vienna. 1856, 

 p. 503. 



Dacelo coronata, Peale, ZooL U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 160 (1st edition, 1848). 

 Dacelo alhiffons, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 162 (no description). 



Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XV. 



Having before us fifteen specimens of this very difficult species, we 

 propose to describe the four stages of plumage into which they appear 

 to us to admit of division. Seven of these specimens are from Tutu- 

 ila, one of the Samoan Islands, and belong to the collection made by 

 the Expedition; two others, marked as from Viti, one of the Feejees, 

 belong to the same. One other, the most adult, is from Tahiti, one of 

 the Society Islands, and five others are from Borabora, another of the 

 Society Islands. The latter belong to the collection of the Philadel- 

 phia Academy. We may, perhaps, be excused for premising that the 

 young bird of this species bears a remarkable resemblance to Todiram- 

 pJms divinus, Lesson (described below), but is clearly distinct. The 

 two specimens from Viti are the larger. 



Adult male, is Alcedo sacra, Gm. (PI. XV, fig. 1), which is described 

 subsequently to A. tuta, of the same author. 



Orig. Desc. — " A. ex ddute caeruleo viridis, suhfus alba, superciliis 

 pallide ferruginem, remigUjus caudaque nigricantihus. Habitat in 

 insulis Societatis." 



