Birds of Celebes; Meropidae. 
249 
Observation. A specimen in the Dresden Museum (Nr. 6870) “Moluccas” without a black 
patch oh the throat has, nevertheless, very long spatules 40 — 50 mm. Another, in 
which the black throat-har is very imperfectly formed (0 1855 — Sangi), has spatules 
of 45 inm length. In others, which are in adult plumage, the spatules vary much 
in length (0 2213 — Manado = 16 mm; 0 2215 — Manado = 33 mm). Specimens 
with the crown varied with pale hlue-tipped feathers amongst the green ones, have 
spatules of all lengths (in C 12203 — Mantehage = 8 mm; 0 2220 — Togian $ 1 spat. 
= 13 mm, the other 25 mm; C 2030 — Manado = 20 mm; 0 2218 — Manado = 
19 and 21 mm; C 2221 — Manado = 27 mm; 0 2212 — Manado = 41 mm; 0 1855 
— Sangi = 45 and 47 mm; 0 2224 — Manado = 72 mm). In several of these cases 
the two middle rectrices have not attained their full growth, and the spatules rest 
upon the other rectrices, not reaching to their tip. 
It may he seen that the blue feathers in the crown of specimens 2224 (spatule 
72 mm), 1855 (spatule 45 mm), 2212 (spatule 41 mm), and others are worn and old, 
whereas the yellow-green feathers are fresh and perfect, showing that the birds are 
assuming a green crown. It might he inferred that these are all immature specimens 
in process of assuming the adult dress, and that the length of the spatules varies 
greatly in different individuals. After full consideration we find that this view must 
be rejected; specimens 1855 and 2224 are among those with the very longest hills 
in a large series, being about 5 mm longer than in young specimens, and it is in- 
conceivable that such a bird as 2224, with one old spatule 72 mm long and a new 
one sprouting, can be a young bird. The primaries — such as are remaining — are 
old and very much worn, as if the bird had been engaged in incubation in its nesting- 
hole in the sand; we take it for a very old female and infer that in the breeding 
season the crown and under-parts in this sex are strongly washed with blue, much 
as in the young. Unfortunately, no positive observations on this subject have been, 
so far as we are aware, yet made. 
Measurements. Wing 106 — 116 mm (Manado, ad. C 2211; Sangi, ad. C 2441 and others); 
tail, without spatule, 78 mm ca. ; bill 26 (juv.) — 31 (ad.). 
Eggs. 4 or 5 (Grid. 7). Beautiful pearly white; circa 21.6 X 18.3 mm (Australia — North 
25); “23 X 20: The eggs of all Meropidae are spherical, very glossy and white, when 
not dirtied by rotting matter in the nest, in which case they often appear clay-yellow, 
like the eggs of the Podicipedidad'’ (Nehrkorn MS.). 
Nest. “The eggs are deposited and the young reared in holes made in the sandy banks of 
rivers or any similar situation in the forest favourable for the purpose. The entrance 
is scarcely larger than a mouse-hole, and is continued for a yard in depth, at the 
end of which is an excavation of sufficient size for the reception of the four or five 
beautiful pinky- white eggs” (Australia — Gould ZZ, 7). 
Breeding season. In New South Wales October, November, December (North 25). 
Distribution. Throughout Australia as far as known; New Guinea; New Britain; west to 
Talaut and Sangi; Celebes and Lombok i). 
For exact localities cf. Salvador! 72, adding Karkellang, Talaut (Nat. Coll, in Dresd. and 
Tring Mus.); Great Sangi (Fischer <9, Meyer 75); Siao (Nat. Coll.); Peling (iid.); 
Samao (f. Buttikofer 27). 
Observation. Dr. Sharpe omits Java — as it appears to us with good reason. Borneo is 
included in its range by Mr. Dresser; but Mr. Everett omits it from his list of 
Bornean Birds (J. Str. Br. B. As. Soc. 1889). 
t' As to specimens from Timor, Lombok etc. see below. 
Meyer & Wiglesworfcli, Birds of Celebes (Oct. 27tli, 1897). 
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