298 
Birds of Celebes: Alcedinidae. 
was certainly in error in stating that this species appears in two different dresses 
according to the season, the first dress described being that of the adult male, the 
second of the female. We have specimens in both dresses killed in March and again 
six months later in August — September, and further properly sexed examples described 
or remarked upon by Schlegel (g 1), Salvadori and Sharpe (7)^ prove that 
the differences are of a sexual nature. 
Measurements. 
Wing 
Tail 
Bill from 
nostril 
Tarsus 
a. (Nr. 6148) ad. Manado, Mch. 1871 (M.) .... 
146 
113 
37 
— 
h. (C 10860) [cf] ad. Manado; Aug., Sept. 1892 (N. C.) 
149 
119 
38.5 
20 
c. (C 2282) vix ad. Manado, Mch. 1871 (M.) 
141 
— 
36 
— 
d. (Nr. 6153) [Q] ad. Manado 
146 
— 
38.5 
21 
e. (C 2286) Q ad. Manado, Mch. 1871 (M.) 
142 
121 
39 
21 
f. (C 2285) § ad. Manado, Mch. 1871 (M.) 
150 
117 
40 
21 
g. (Nr. 6152) § ad. Manado, Mch. 1871 (M.) .... 
144 
113 
39.5 
— 
h. (Nr. 6151) Q vix ad. Manado, Mch. 1871 (M.) . . . 
144 
116 
37 
— 
i. (Nr. 6150) $ ad. Manado . . . , 
147 
— 
39 
— 
j. (C 10859) [$J vix ad. Manado, Aug., Sept. 1892 (N. C.) 
143 
114 
37 
— 
k. (C 12256) juv. Lotta, Msa., 14. IV. 93 (N. C.) . . . 
122 
58 
28 
20 
1. (C 12257) juv. Manado tua Id., 8. IV. 93 (N. C.) . . 
120 
59 
26 
19 
m. (C 14192) [(^j ad. Lembeh Id., Feb. 1895 (N. C.) . . 
146 
no 
40 
21 
n. (C 14193) ad. Lembeh Id., Mch. 1895 (N. C.) . . 
141 
110 
35 
— 
Observation. In old examples the bill appears to be thinner as well as 
longer, being a little 
more narrowed at the sides near the base and the ridge of the culmen sharper. 
Eggs. 3; white and transparent; 30 X 25 mm (Meyer d 3). 
Nest. In a white ants’ nest the size of a gourd. Half of the ants’ nest destroyed by the 
bird, cavity for the eggs six inches in diameter, entrance two inches in diameter 
and nine inches long. The nest was still partly inhabited by the ants (Meyer 
d 3). Two other eggs of this species were found by Meyer lying on the ground 
and dirty. 
Breeding season. The above nest was found in the Minahassa, March 17*^. The young fly 
— as shown by the two specimens in the Dresden Museum — at the end of March 
or in April. 
Distribution. Celebes, Northern Peninsula: Minahassa (Forsten g 1^ Wallace b 4, I, 
Posenb. g 4, Meyer d 3, etc.); Gorontalo Province (Eosenb. g 4); Manado tua Id. 
and Lembeh Id. (Nat. Coll, in Dresden Mus.). 
i- 2. Monachalcyon monachus intermedius Hart. 
Nov. Zook 1897, 163. 
Diagnosis. Differs conspicuously from the typical form of N. Celebes in having the head of 
a much deeper blue, and with a distinct, though faint, greenish tinge ; the tail a little 
less washed with blue; the breast and abdomen a shade lighter than in the most 
males of the typical form, the hill apparently a little thicker. Wing about 142 mm; 
tail about 127; beak 50 (Hartert). 
Distribution. Western Celebes — Tawaya (Doherty). 
Observation. A single specimen, a male, was obtained by Mr. Doherty at the above spot. 
Mr. Hartert had the great kindness to bring this specimen, together with the only 
