314 
Birds of Celebes: Coraciidae. 
Dresser, Mon. Oorac, 1893, 67, pis. XVII, XVIII; (18) M. & Wg., Abli. Mus. 
Dresden 1895, Xr. 8, p. 8; (19) iid., ib. 1895, Xr. 9, p. 4; (20) iid., ib. 1896, Xr. 2, 
p. 13; (21) Hart., Xov. Zool. 1896, 176; (22j id., ib. 1897, 159. 
b. Eurystomus australis (1) Sharpe, Cat. B. XVH, 1892, 36. 
“Hendingo-Opo”, Gorontalo?, Kosenb. 5. 
“Tjetje”, Malay name, X. Celebes, Meyer 6. 
"Kokotaka”, Talissi Id., Hickson') 13. 
“Poopoopuug ", Siao, Xat. Coll. Mus. Dr. 
“Atera”, Talaut, iid. 
For full synonymy and references see Salvad., Orn. Pap. 1880, I, 503 (E. pad ficus) and 508 
(E. orientalis), Agg. 1889, 60; Sharpe, Cat. B. XVH, 1892, 33, 36 (E. laetior, E. 
auslralifj 38 (E. calmyx)', Dresser AVlf a III (E. orientalis). 
Figures and descriptions. Dresser XVJl, a III-, Gould, B. Austr. II, pi. 17 (E. paeifictts,-, 
Sharpe 1. c. pi. H, fig. I (E. orientalis), fig. 2 (E. cal(my.ic)\ Legge a 2; Salvad., 
11. cc. ; Meyer, Mitth. Z. Mus. Di-esden 1875, I, 19; W. Bias. 17; etc. 
Skeleton. Eyton, Blanchard and Plirbringer have figured the skeleton or parts of it. 
Adult. General colour above brownish French-green, becoming dark olivaceous seal-brown 
no top and sides of liead, dun, and sides of neck, washed Avith bluish on the scajAulars, 
innermost quills and upper tail-coverts; around orbital region and forehead blackish; 
wing-coverts strongly washed with cerulean-blue; quills black washed on their 
outer webs with cyanine-blue (except the innermost ones Avhicli are concolourous with 
the scapulars), the primaries crossed about their middle length l)y a broad band of 
pale blue, not seen on the outer web of the first primary; tail black, washed Avith 
cyanine-blue, most strongly toAvards its basal part; on throat an ill-defined patch of 
French-blue washed Avith mauA'e; under-parts, from breast doA\mAvards, fight sea- 
green, the blue tint in it being strongest on the abdomen; quills below (except for 
the band of pearl-blue) black, the inner webs hyacinth-blue for tbe most part (Great 
Sangi, C 838). “Iris fight broAvn; bill sealing-Avax red, tip black; feet broAvn-red" 
(Platen 72). 
Sexes. Similar. 
Young. Differs from the adult in being duller in colour and in baAmig a black bill, and in 
Avanting the bright blue patch on the throat, Avhich is greenish, a little duller than 
the abdomen (Sharpe). 
Measurements (8 adult specimens: Celebes and Great Sangi — 5 dated April, July). "Wing 
180 — 194; tail 96 — 105; tar.sus 17; bill from nostril 16.5— 18 mm. 
Eggs. India. Very broad oval, pure Avhite and .faintly glossy; 34 — 36 X 29 — 29.5 mm (Oate.s, 
Hume’s Xests and Eggs Ind. B. HI, 37); Australia (E. australis), two or three in 
number, dull Avhite, rather glossy, sometimes variable in form: 36.8x26.7 oblong, 
34x27.9 roundish (Xorth, Xests and Eggs Austr. B. 35 pi. XIV fig. 1); three, 
sometimes four eggs, be.autiful pearly Avhite, considerably iiointed at the smaller end 
(G oul d. ). 
Nest. Breeds in holes in trees: no nest, eggs laid on a feAV chips of rotten Avood — India 
(Bourdillon in Oates, 1. c.); no nest, eggs laid on the dust formed by the decayed 
Avood — Australia (Ramsay in Xorth 1. c.). 
Breeding season. In South India nest found March 17*’^ and April 20*'’, in the Himalayas, 
May (Oates); in Australia, October (Xorth); from September to December (Gld., 
Handl). B. Austr. I, 1 20). 
Dr. Hickson remarks: “my boA^s called this bird ‘Kokotaka’, but Mej'er )says that the native name 
‘Tjetje’.” In K. Celebes ‘Tokkakak’ (= ‘Kokotaka?) is the name for Coracias temminclii. 
