278 
Birds of Celebes: Alcedinidae. 
Ceycopsis has four toes — the inner one very minute — Ceyx has three; it 
may insult the convictions of many anatomists if called upon to admit that a 
bird with four toes may be intermediate between two sections of a genus with 
three; still more outrageous seems the assumption that Alcedo wuth four toes can 
be descended from Ceyx with three. We do not, of course, suggest that such 
is the case ; but once undoubtedly Ceyx had four toes and the second of Ceycopsis 
was much larger than it is now. 
It is possible that a future worker on the Kingfishers of the genera Alcedo, 
Alcyone, Ceyx, Ceycopsis, Ispidina and Myioceyx will come to the conclusion that 
the red and the blue types of plumage in these genera have persisted since all 
agreed in having four toes; that since then the small inner toe has become 
completely aborted in both the red and most of the blue forms in the East 
Indies, except Celebes, where the process as seen in Ceycopsis is not quite 
complete. In any case Ceycopsis may be regarded as a rather ancient form. We 
do not know how it got to Celebes, but its ancestors appear to be the red 
forms of Ceyx of the islands to the west and the Indian countries. 
It is a mystery why the second toe in certain Kingfishers has become aborted, 
and we are at a loss to make a suggestion for the explanation of the fact. 
Can there be a reason in their habits or their mode of life? 
* 87. CEYCOPSIS SANGIRENSIS M.&Wg. 
Sangi Fallacious Kingfisher. 
Plate X. 
a. Ceycopsis fallax (1) Meyer, Ibis 1879, 63 partim; (2) id., Isis, Dresden 1884, 6; (3) 
W. Bias., Ornis 1888, 572 partim. 
Adult. Similar to Ceycopsis fallax of Celebes, but with the blue spots of tlie liead above 
much larger and continued further down the hind nock, the spots on the sides of 
occiput almost running into one another, and blue like those of the head, not magenta; 
the spots on the middle, and gi'eater wing-coverts larger, magenta; mantle washed 
with magenta; bill longer and diffeifng in shape — not so much narrowed in its 
terminal third or so much broadened at its base; size a little greater (Tabukan, 
Great Sangi, Meyer in Vienna Museum 1877, Nr. Hi). 
Immature (with a dusky hom-coloured bill). Just like the adult, but with none of the feathers 
of the mantle tinted with magenta, the blue on the head and neck a trifle darker 
and the ear-coverts less strongly washed with magenta (Tabukan, Great Sangi, 
Meyer — Nr. 6225). 
Measurements. 
Wing 
Tail 
■ a. (Vienna Mus.) ad. Gt. Sangi . 
b. (Nr. 6225) imm. Gt. Sangi 
60') 
62 
28 
25.5 
j Bill from 
nostril 
Tarsus 
I 33 
I 31 
9 
9 
Distribution. Tabukan, Great Sangi (Meyer a 1, a 2), where it appears to be plentiful. 
*) The ends of the quills are frayed, so that 1 or 2 mm should be added to make up their original length . 
