COLOUR AND NIDIFICATION. 
173 
'Up. V 
XV. 
^6 r 
e ^e, l ^ es ' This is a significant fact, for sucli differ- 
of S(j S colour must be accounted for on the principle 
°f the variations in the males having been from 
% ^mited in their transmission to the same sex ; 
hardly be maintained that these dihercnces, 
C^hy when very slight, serve as a protection to 
of J } ' u aie. Thus all the species in the splendid group 
%i, t e .J r °g°ns build in holes; and Mr. Gould gives 
° °f both sexes of twenty-five species, in all of 
<h ' v dh one partial exception, the sexes differ some- 
th. Rightly, sometimes conspicuously, in colour, 
t|) 0(i ‘j'cs being always more beautiful than the iemalcs, 
the latter are likewise beautiful. All the 
tlm e ® °f kingfisher build in holes, and with most of 
ll t S h ee ieg the sexes are equally brilliant, and thus tar 
1%^ Place’s rule holds good ; but in some ot the 
a '’au species the colours ot the females are rather 
than those of the male ; and in one splen- 
tliviy 0(J toured species, the sexes differ so much that 
llf_ * ere at first thought to be specifically distinct.'^' 
gf 0|J ' lb Sharpe, who has especially studied this 
in l 1 ’ tas shewn me some American species (Ceryle) 
bl^. ic t the breast of the male is belted with 
Again, in Carcineutes, the difference between 
. es is conspicuous: in the male the upper sur- 
^ e ii)c> S ^AU-blne banded with black, the lower surface 
P^tly fawn-coloured, and there is much red 
> Mai tAe head; in the female the upper surface is 
Hite . 0Wn banded with black, and the lower surface 
Hs ^ "ith black markings. It is an interesting fact, 
l6 "ing l 10w ti, e same peculiar style ol sexual 
! » s 
*> V\* 
t Xan, l -| S ‘ Monograph of the Trogonidas,’ first edition. 
e b Cyanalcyon. Gould’s • Handbook of the Birds of Aus- 
° p. 133 ; see, also, p. 130, 136. 
