INSESSORES. 



209 



The name Daceh alhifrons, Peale, MSS.," as above cited, is given 

 by Mr. Peale as a synonyme for Todimmplius vagans, but the speci- 

 men in the collection of the Expedition to which this name is attached, 

 is the young of the present species. 



4. ToDiKAMPHUS viTiENSis [Peale). 



Dacelo vitiensis, Peale, Zool. Voj. Vincennes and Peacock, Birds, p. 156 (1st ed. 

 1848). 



Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XVI. 



Of this species, which is nearly related to the last, we have seven 

 specimens belonging to the collection made by the Expedition, and 

 collected in the Feejee and Tonga Islands. They are invariably 

 smaller than the species immediately preceding [T. tuta), and present 

 other differences. 



Male, adult ? from Venua Levu, one of the Feejee Islands. 



Form. — Short and robust ; wings short, with the second, third, and 

 fourth quills very nearly equal and longest ; tail rounded. 



Dimensions. — Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, 

 about eight and one-fourth inches; wing, three and a half inches ; tail, 

 two and three-fourths inches. 



Colors. — Stripe from the nostril over the eye to the occiput, fine 

 orange buff. Head above from the bill to the occiput, fine blue (ultra- 

 marine), with a shade of green, which color is inclosed, except in front 

 at the base of the upper mandible, by the buff stripe commencing at 

 the nostril. At the base of the bill, slightly under the lower mandi- 

 ble and from behind the eye, a stripe of the same blue extends to the 

 occiput, all the feathers of which (stripe) are black at their bases, 

 and appearing black when disarranged. Back blue, deeply tinged 

 with prussian-green ; rump cobalt-blue ; wings and tail ultramarine. 



Entire inferior surface of the body, under wing-coverts, and narrow 

 collar around the hind neck, fine buff or terra de sienna, palest and 



53 



