THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
In 1821 Swainson introduced Halcyon as supplementary to Dacelo proposed 
by Leach in 1815. As type of Halcyon Swainson designated Alcedo senegalensis 
Linn., though figuring Latham’s Alcedo collaris. 
Simultaneously Horsfield proposed the name “ Entomoiherce ‘ Chasseurs^ ” 
as a group name in connection with Alcedo coromanda Latham. The succeed- 
ing year he amplified his remarks describing the sections in detail. Of the 
first section Alcedo typical he stated : “ Alcedo ispida furnishes a sample of this 
genus.” The second he also diagnosed concluding : “ The Alcedo sacra 
furnishes a sample of this genus.” He continued with Dacelo and Entomothera 
and observed: “The propriety of these views, as far as regards the division of 
Alcedo, of the earher ornithologists into two genera, is confirmed by the author 
of the Zoological Illustrations, William Swainson, Esq. In the Fifth Number 
of this work, the second genus is described with the name of Halcyon, while 
Alcedo is apphed to the first, and the characters of both genera are clearly 
defined. In the Museum of Joshua Brookes, Esq., of Blenheim Street, the 
second genus is distinguished by the name of Entomophila, from the Manu- 
scripts of Dr. Leach.” It seems that Entomophila may be determined as an 
alternative name, and therefore equivalent to Halcyon, and that its type may 
be regarded as A. senegalensis Linn:, and that we may legitimately disregard 
Horsfield’s “ sample ” of A. sacra in this connection. 
In 1827 Lesson after collecting Indo-Pacific birds, proposed the new genera 
8yma, Melidora and Todiramphus. The first named is very distinct and we 
have already dealt with it : the second is a well-marked genus which does not 
enter into this review : the third was introduced for the flatbilled island species, 
two only being attached, T. sacer= Alcedo sacra Gmehn etc. of Lesson not 
accurately of Gmelin, and T. divinus sp. n. 
In 1830 in his Traite Lesson proposed the new genus name Alcyon for 
Alcedo L. et Auct., an introduction which seems to have been overlooked, 
as it is not quoted in the Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum, Vol. 
XVII., nor in Waterhouse’s Index Generum Avium,"^ MiUer has stated the 
comphcations surrounding the type of Alcedo as they appeared in 1912, but had 
he known of this further complex he might well have been puzzled. As it 
is, the matter has been apparently decided that A. ispida designated by Lesson 
himself in 1828 is the type of Alcedo. The above was quoted by Miller, but 
Swainson in the Zoological Illustrations, Ser. I., pi. 26, 1821, had previously 
definitely named the same species as type before he introduced his genus 
Halcyon. Accepting A. ispida as the type of “ Alcedo L. & Auct., ” this 
* Since this was in the printer’s hands Richmond’s third list of Generic Names applied to Birds has been 
received; and therein (Proc V.S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 53, p. 576, Aug. 6, 1917) is recorded “ Alcyon Lesson, Type 
Alcedo alcyon, Linnaeus tautonymy,” with a footnote- 
My own view above given would seem to be the most accurate, but I leave the matter for better 
judgment. 
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