HALCY0N1N.TC. 
1. D. gigas (Bodd.) G. R. Gray, PI. enl. 663. — Alcedo fusca 
Gmel. ; Al. gigantea Lath. Leach, Zool.Misc.pl. 104., Sonn. Voy. 
N. Guin. t. 106'. ; Al. undulata Scop. ; Choncalcyon australe Less. 
Gould, B. of Austr. pi. 
2. D . cervina Gould, B. of Austr.pl. ., Voy. au Pole Sud, t. 
23. f. 1 . ? 
3. D. Leachii Lath. MSS. Linn. Trans, xv. p. 205. 
1 * Ois* 
4. D. Gaudichaudii Quoy Gaim, Yoy. de l’Uranie, 
t. 25. 
5. D. cyanotis Temm. PI. col. 262. 
6. I). macrorhyncha Less. Voy. de la Coqu. Ois. t. 31. bis, 
— Melidora euplirosise Less. ; Type of Melidora Less. (1831)- 
Tanysiptera Vigors .* 
Bill long, broad, and elevated at the base ; the sides gradually compressed, and the culmen straig^ 
to the tip, which is acute ; the lateral margins straight or slightly curved, and thegonys ascending; 1 
nostrils basal and lateral, with the opening rounded and exposed. Wings moderate, with the first thi ee 
quills graduated, with the fourth the longest. Tail long and cuneated, with the middle feathers inf> c ^ 
lengthened, and the tip spatuliformed. Tarsi shorter than the toes, covered in front with transvei 
scales. Toes long and unequal ; the inner toe short, and united to the second joint, the outer one l 011 -"’ 
and united to the third joint, of the middle toe ; and the hind toe moderate : the claws moderate 
compressed, and curved. 
These showy birds are found in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands. 
1. T. Dea (Linn.) Vigors, PI. enl. 11 6 . | 2. T. Nympha G. It. Gray, Ann. of Nat. Hist. 1841. p- 238- 
Halcyon Swains. f 
Bill long, broad at the base, sometimes depressed, with the sides gradually compressed, arid tb 
culmen more or less straight to the tip, which is acute ; the lateral margins usually straight, arid 
gonys more or less straight and ascending ; the nostrils basal and lateral, placed in a small membran° u 
jfing s 
the 
space, with the opening small, longitudinal, and partly concealed by the projecting plumes, 
moderate, with the first quill long, and the third the longest. Tail moderate, and rounded on 
sides. Tarsi very short, rather slender, and covered in front with transverse scales. Toes model 
and unequal ; with the outer toe long, and united to the third joint, and the inner to the second joiub 
the middle toe : the claws moderate, compressed, and acute. 
These birds are found in Africa, India and its archipelago, Australia, and the islands of the South Seas, 
generally reside, singly or in pairs, in the moist open forests or jungles on the sides of rivers and brooks, though® 1 ^ 
species are rarely observed in the neighbourhood of water, while others frequent cultivated places and plains- # 
flying, they usually utter a loud rattling scream. They often sit for a long time on a pole or the lower branc 
* Established by Vigors in 1829 ( Zoological Journal, p. 266.). 
t Established by Mr. Swainson in 1821 ( Zoological Illustrations'). 
Actenoide of MM. Hombron and Jacquenot. 
It embraces Syma and Todiramphus 
of M. Lesson 
( 1828 )> 
also 
