6 
finely barred alternately with buff and black. The primaries are light 
grey underneath, dark grey on the upper surface, and on the outer 
webs the bars assume the form of spots on the external feather, these 
marks becoming irregular and broken as they approach the secondaries. 
The inner webs of the primaries are curiously mottled, . yet more or less 
preserving the character of bars, and form great diversity of pattern, no 
two feathers being alike. The lengthened coverts and scapulars so 
overlap the wings as to hide them completely when closed. The bill is 
dark brown in colour, blackish along the culmen and lighter at the tip. 
The under mandible is lighter brown in color, and blackish along the 
biting part. Eyes and feet yellow. Length 25 inches ; wing Hi, tail 
5, bill 4^, tarsus 3^. This bird was shot at the same time and place 
as the preceding. 
"We have hitherto been acquainted with only one species of minute 
kingfisher, viz., the Alcyone Pusilla, though the form is known to exist 
in the E. I. Archipelago, and it may be found that the two species 
I am about to mention may have been described under other names by 
Wallace and other naturalists. From the small distances that have 
to be traversed several beautiful kingfishers resort from New Guinea, 
and doubtless other islands, to our northern shores, and spend a more 
or less lengthened period there before returning, and possibly these 
may be among the number. But it is highly interesting to record as 
Australian such a lovely addition to its avifauna as Alcyone Bella, the 
“ beautiful kingfisher,” a description of which is as follows: — Fore- 
head, ear coverts, and interrupted band on the chest, black ; head, 
intense blackish blue, the centre of each feather on which is glossy 
and shining ultramarine blue ; shoulder and primaries brownish 
black. The rest of the wing dark purplish blue, except the greater 
and lesser coverts, which have ultramarine glossings in the centre of 
each feather, like the feathers of the crown ; lores, and a tuft behind 
the ear coverts, whitish buff ; throat white ; chest, abdomen, and under 
tail coverts, rich orange ; centre of the back and upper tail coverts, 
bright shining cobalt blue ; tail nearly black ; irides and bill, black ; 
feet, flesh color. Length, inches ; wing 2£, tail f, bill If, tarsus f. 
Several specimens of this beautiful little creature were obtained 
about twelve miles from Cape York by Mr. Cockerell, who says it is 
seldom seen near water, its food consisting entirely of insects. It 
sits motionless on a twig, and making a dart at any passing insect 
secures it and returns to the same spot. 
Alcyone Assimilis (allied kingfisher) . — The specific name w r hich I 
have applied to this species has reference to the similarity which 
exists between our A. Pusilla and itself, but the general duiness of 
color throughout, and the absence of the slightest tinge of green 
sufficiently distinguish it. Upper surface, deep purplish blue more or 
less mingled with blackish, especially on the wings ; primaries and 
secondaries brownish black ; lores, and the usual tuft behind the ear 
coverts, and the whole of the under surface, pure white. There is a 
purple band on each side of the chest, and the flanks are blackish 
