Birds of Celebes: Alcedinidae. 
281 
Young. Two young specimens — perhaps a fortnight out of the nest, with the hard white 
points for breaking the egg still left on the tip of the upper bill, are like the adults; 
in one specimen (? cf — 0 12583) the magenta wash is more strongly developed 
than in many adult birds, hut a shght shade darker; in the other (? Q — C 12581) 
this colour is less strong than in its fellow of the same age. The blue of the 
rump a trifle darker in the latter, but both are intermediate between adults with the 
darkest and palest rumps. Feathers of under surface from chin to middle of 
abdomen terminally fringed with dusky brown, more broadly than in the older 
immature bird; hill whitish yellow, in the second specimen dusky horn- colour in 
places. The shape of the maxilla is noteworthy from the manner in which it overlaps 
at the tip and is bent down, and the mandible also is peculiar from the keel-shaped 
prominence along the middle. This calls to mind somewhat the shape of the hill in 
Melidora. The adult bird has no hook and no noteworthy keel. Feet and claws 
pale brown (Siao — Nat. Coll.). 
Observation. In Museum- specimens the bright red of the bill fades in course of years into 
ochraceous huff, or some still paler tint. 
Measurements. 
Wing 
Tail 
Tarsus 
Bill from 
nostril 
a. (Nr. 6179) ad. Manado 
114 
75 
16 
49 
h. (Nr. 1906) ad. Minahassa 
114 
71 
17 
49 
c. (Nr. 6181) ad. Manado 
118 
— 
16 
49 
d. (C 10862) ad. near Manado, VIII. — IX. 92 ... . 
116 
70 
16 
47.5 
e. (C 10864) ad. near Manado, YIII. — IX. 92 ... . 
115 
— 
16.5 
49.5 
f. (C 10863) imm. near Manado, VIII. — IX. 92 ... 
-HrF- 
16.5 
49 
g. (C 10507) rfl ad. Siao 
118 
72 
16 
46 
h. (C 12582) ad. Siao, 28. VI. 93 
117 
74 
15 
47 
i. (C 12581) juv. Siao, 9. VII. 93 
^4 
15 
21 
j. (C 12583) juv. Siao, 23. VI. 93 
97 
29 
16 
21 
k. (Nr. 6180) ad. Grt. Sangi .- 
115 
72 
15.5 
46 
1. (C 13868) ad. Minahassa, 17. XII. 94 
114 
71 
18 
48 
m. (C 14201) ad. Lembeh Id., 26. II. 95 ...... 
121 
71 
17 
48 
n. (C 14202) vix ad. Lembeh Id., 12. IH. 95 
126 
69 
17 
43 
0 . (Sara sin Coll.) (V ioam. Minahassa, 17. II. 94 . . . 
-126 
71 
17 
49 
p. (Sarasin Coll.) ad. Macassar, XII. 95 . . . '. 
121 
69 
. 
50 
q. (Sarasin CoU.) (V ad. Macassar, XII. 95 .... 
118 
70 
16.5 
51 
r. (C 14590) ad. Peling Id., V.— VIH. 95 
110 
68 
15 
— 
s. (C 14591) vix ad. Peling Id., V.--VIII. 95 ... . 
114 
70 
16 
45.5 
t. (C 14592) ad. Peling Id., V.— VIII. 95 
115 
68 
— 
48 
u. (C 13780) vix ad. Karkellang, Talaut, XI. 94 . . . 
127 
75 
16.5 
45 
Variation. In Celebes the young on leaving the nest has the rich magenta hue of the upper 
parts as strongly developed as in the adult; the tarsus (as is usual in bmds) attains 
its full length at a much earlier age than the bill, wing and tail. 
Immature specimens, as we take them, which are only recognisable by the impure 
red of the bill — a certain amount of duskiness being present at its base — lose 
the magenta tint of the young almost completely (it is most pronounced on the tail) 
and are simple cinnamon-rufous above. 
In the adult bird the magenta tint is. again developed and is very rich. 
The blue tint on the rump varies independently of age in specimens from the 
Meyer & Wigleswortli, Birds of Celebes (Oct. 29th, 1897). og 
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