Birds of Celebes; Alcedinidae. 
267 
For further synonyms and references to the species see Sharpe b 2, g 7. 
Figures and descriptions. Sharpe a II, b 2, f 2, g 7\ Temminck II; Swainson a I; 
Eeichh. Ill; Schlegel V, 4; Walden II; Hume b 1, el, f 1, g 3. 
Adult male. Like A. moluccmm, but smaller; feet smaller and more delicate, inner toe more 
reduced, claw of inner toe slightly overreaching the base of the terminal joint (claw 
not counted as such) of middle toe, whereas in moluccana it reaches to the middle 
of it ; hack, rump, and upper tail-coverts cohalt ; the blue of the other parts of upper 
surface more violet-hlue ; under surface chesnut cinnamon-rufous (Banggai Id. V. — VIH. 
95, 0 14728). 
Adult female. In some parts of its range — probably in all parts — the under hill of the 
female is red or rufous. 
“The adult female does not differ from the male as is usually asserted; hut the 
blue cheeks and ear-coverts are not assumed so quickly as in the male. Traces of 
ferruginous are visible in these parts until the bird is aged” (Oates a 6, Pegu). 
Young. “The young bird differs in having cheeks and ear-coverts ferruginous: in males the blue 
on these parts is quickly assumed, in females very slowly and some trace of ferrugi- 
nous in these latter is generally present” (Grorontalo, Biedel — 0 11097). 
“Young birds able to fly have the hill black with the tip white; the legs pale 
red and the iris dark brown. One young bird, probably a male, has the whole plumage 
just as bright as the adult male, and the cheeks and ear-coverts blue” (Oates 10). 
ments. 
Wing 
Tail 
Exp. 
Oulmen 
Tarsus 
a. (W. Bias. 72) [cf] Gorontalo '. . 
65 
28 
36 
b. (W. Bias. 72) [Q] Grorontalo . 
65 
29 
39 
c. (Petersb. Mus.) juv.] Grorontalo 
61 
27 
— 
8.5 
d. fC 11097) [Q juv.] Gorontalo 
60 
20 
24 
8.5 
e. (C 14728) ad. Banggai, Y. — YHI. 95 (Hat. Coll.) 
64 
26 
39 
8.5 
f. (C 14593) ad. Peling, V. — VHI. 95 (iid.) 
61 
26 
37 
7.5 
g. (C 14441) ad. Tonkean, E. Cel., Y. — YHI. 95 (iid.) . 
64 
28 
38 
8.5 
/^. (Sarasin Coll.) Q Macassar, 15. XH. 94 ... . 
62 
24 
36 
8.5 
Eggs. 4 to 6; very glossy and round, white; average size 19.5 X 17.5 mm (Pegu — Oates 
a 6, a 10 ) ; glossy white; rather rounded, 20 X 16-5 mm (Labuan — Low S). 21 X 17mm 
(Nehrkorn MS.). 
Nest. A nest of this species described by Mr. Oates was in the steep bank of a ravine in 
thick forest. G-allery about one and a half feet long, terminating in a small chamber. 
Eggs laid on the hare soil (a 10). 
Breeding season. Pegu, July (Oates a 6). 
Distribution of the species. Southern and Central India to the Eastern Himalayas (Sharpe 
g 7, Beavan g 1, Hume g 4, g 5, etc.); Burmah (Oates a 6, g 6)', Tenasserim (Da- 
vison g 3); Andaman Islands (Beavan cl, B,. O. W. Bamsay d 1, el, Davison 
el, (/ 7); Cochin China (Brit. Mus. g 7); Malay Peninsula (Wall, a II, Davison b 2); 
Salanga (A. Mull. 12)\ Penang (Cantor 6, Wall, b 2); Singapore (Davison g 7, etc.); 
Sumatra (Baffl. 6, Wall, b 2, etc.); Banka (Bossche 4)\ Billiton (Yorderman 
14, 15)] Borneo (S. Miill. etc. 6, a 8)] Palawan (Whitehead a 9, Platen 13)\ Balabac 
(Everett 18)] Sooloo Islands (Ouillem. a 7, Everett 77); Celebes: — Grorontalo 
(Biedel 12, Bosenb. 3**“), Togian Islands (Meyer a 5), Tonkean, E. Celebes (Hat. 
Coll.), Kandari, S. E. Celebes (Beccari 7), Macassar (Wallace a II, 6, g 7, P. & E. 
Sarasin), Peling and Banggai, (Hat. Coll.); Java (Horsf. 7, etc.); Lombok (Wall. 
all, b 2, Yorderman 19). 
1 
34 * 
( 
