Birds of Celebes; Alcedinidae. 
281 
Young. Two young specimens — perhaps a fortnight out of the nest, Avith the hard white 
points for breaking the egg still left on the tip of the upper bill, are like the adults; 
in one specimen (? rf — C 12583) the magenta wash is more strongly developed 
than in many adidt birds, but a slight shade darker; in the other (? Q — 0 12581) 
this colour is less strong than in its fellow of tlie same age. The blue of the 
rump a trifle darker in the latter, hut both are intermediate between adults with the 
darkest and palest rumps. Featliers of under surface from chin to middle of 
abdomen terminally fringed Avith dusky broAAm, more broadly than in the older 
immature bird; bill whitish yellow, in the second specimen dusky horn-colour in 
places. The shape of the maxilla is noteworthy from the mamier in which it overlaps 
at the tip and is bent dowm, and the manchble also is peculiar from the keel-shaped 
prominence along the middle. This calls to mind somewhat the shape of the bill in 
Melidora. The adult bird has no hook and no noteworthy keel. Feet and claws 
pale brown (Siao — Nat. Coll.). 
Observation. In Museum- specimens the bright red of the hill fades in course of years into 
ochraceous buff, or some still paler tint. 
Measurements. 
Wing 
Tail 
Tarsus 
BUI from 
nostrU 
a. 
(Nr. 6179) ad. Manado 
114 
75 
16 
49 
b. 
(Nr. 1906) ad. Minahassa 
114 
71 
17 
49 
c. 
(Nr. 6181) ad. Manado 
118 
— 
16 
49 
d. 
(C 10862) ad. near Manado, 92 ... . 
116 
70 
16 
47.5 
e. 
(C 10864) ad. near Manado, YITT. — IX. 92 ... . 
115 
— 
16.5 
49.5 
f- 
(C 10863) imm. near Manado, VIII. — IX. 92 ... 
114 
— 
16.5 
49 
9- 
(C 10507) o’ afl- Siao 
118 
72 
16 
46 
h. 
(C 12582) ad. Siao, 28. VI. 93 
117 
74 
15 
47 
i. 
(C 12581) juv. Siao, 9. VII. 93 
91 
24 
15 
21 
j- 
(C 12583) juv. Siao, 23. VI. 93 
97 
29 
16 
21 
t 
(Nr. 6180) ad. Gt. Sangi 
115 
72 
15.5 
46 
i. 
(C 13868) ad, Minahassa, 17. XII, 94 
114 
71 
18 
48 
m. 
(C 14201) ad. Lembeh Id., 26. 11. 95 
121 
71 
17 
48 
n. 
(C 14202) vix ad. Lembeh Id., 12. III. 95 
126 
69 
17 
43 
0. 
(Sara sin Coll.) imm. Minahassa, 17. U. 94 . . . 
126 
71 
17 
49 
P- 
(Sarasin Coll.) ad. Macassar, XII. 95 .... 
121 
69 
— 
50 
Q- 
(Sarasin Coll.) (J' ad. Macassar, XII. 95 .... 
118 
70 
16.5 
51 
r. 
(C 14590) ad. Peling Id., V.— VIM. 95 
110 
68 
15 
— 
s. 
(C 14591) vix ad. Pehng Id., V. — Vill. 95 ... . 
114 
70 
16 
45.5 
t. 
(C 14592) ad. Pehng Id., V.— VlII. 95 
115 
68 
48 
u. 
(C 13780) vix ad. Karkellang, Talaut, XI. 94 . . . 
127 
75 
16.5 
45 
Variation. In Celebes the young on leaving the nest has the rich magenta hue of the upper 
parts as strongly developed as in the adult; the tarsus (as is usual in birds) attains 
its full length at a much earlier age than the bill, Aving and tail. 
Immature specimens, as we take them, which are only recognisable by the impure 
red of the biU — a certain amount of duskiness being present at its base — lose 
the magenta tint of the young almost completely (it is most pronounced on the tail) 
and arc simple cinnamon-rufous above. 
In the adult bird the magenta tint is again developed and is very rich. 
Tlie blue tint on the rump varies independently of age in specimens from the 
Meyer Wigleswortli, Birds of Celebes (Oct. 2iith, 1807). yg 
