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Birds of Celebes: Alcedinidae. 
This species varies considerably for a Kingfisher in different parts of its 
range and is split np by Dr. R. B. Sharpe into two species, viz. A. beavani 
Wald., of the Andaman Islands, Iridia and Bnrmah as far as Bankasoon (South 
Tenasserim) and Cochin China, occurring again in Celebes; A. meninting Horsf. 
ranging from Bankasoon down the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Borneo, Java 
and Lombok. Mr. Blanford g 9) follows Dr. Sharpe 
These two supposed species intergrade, as far as we can make out, between 
Burmah and Malacca, and either a system of subspecies should, if possible, have 
been created, or, as in the case of A. ispida, the badly understood local races 
might have been embraced under one name. The forms, which Dr. Sharpe 
brings together under the name beavani, Mr. Hume would unite as one with 
meninting or separate into two or three; of the South Indian birds he 
writes; “it must be understood clearly that this is not beavani [of the Andamans", 
but a form lying on the other side of asiatica” (Str. F. IV, 383), and later 
again: “I believe this ought to be separated as a distinct species” (Str. F. X. 
1883, 352 note). Specimens from the Andaman Islands run to another ex- 
treme of coloration, but in Pegu and Tenasserim an intermediate form of A. 
meninting occurs which “is very close to, and runs into” the typical A. beavani 
(g 3, g 6). Dr. Sharpe finds that the Indian variation repeats itself in Celebes; 
the fact is curious, but few specimens have been obtained in the island and 
more material may possibly serve to show that it differs. Three specimens from 
Borneo and one from Java in the Dresden Museum are more violet in hue 
than those before us from Celebes, Peling, and Banggai, and the bills of the 
former seem to be broader — in one case much longer and the wing shorter 
than in the Celebesian birds ; also the reduced toe appears to be smaller. 
Schlegel remarks on Rosenberg’s three specimens from Gorontalo that the 
colours of the upper surface incline strongly to green (5 ; the specimens in 
our hands do not confirm this statement, but sho-w bright blue tints. 
On the habits of this bird in Pegu Oates writes (a 6)'. “This species is 
restricted to the dense forests, where the ground is broken up by nullahs and 
ravines. I think it always darts on its prey from a perch and does not hover- 
in the ail-”. In the Andamans its habits appear to differ: “it keeps exclusively 
(as far as I have observed)”, says Davison, “to the salt -water creeks, occasion- 
ally venturing out to the fishing- stakes at the mouths of the creeks. Its voice 
is weaker, and not nearly so shrill as that of A. bengalensis [A. ispida)-, it feeds 
on small fish, after which it plunges, keeping under water for some considerable 
time” (el). 
GENUS PELARGOPSIS Glog. 
The members of this genus are about the size of a Turtle-dove; the tail 
is longer than the bill, rounded; the bill about twice as long as the head, large, 
the culmen straight, flattened along its ridge; wing moderate, 3'“* and 4*'" quills 
