Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 259 
Peking, that I was wrong in referring them to this species. I am 
now willing to admit that the Russian ornithologists were right 
in identifying them with C. riparia (Linn.). The immature state 
of my Peking specimen led to this mistake; but I have lately 
submitted my Formosan and Peking skins to Mr. G. R. Gray, and 
he confirms my present opinion. 
19. Halcyon coromandelianus (Scop.). 
Alcedo coromanda , Lath. 
A specimen of this was brought to me from the interior, of 
which the upper parts were orange-ochre, washed with a beau¬ 
tiful tint of lilac-pink; rump with a central streak of bluish 
white. Under parts fine orange-buff, whitish on throat and 
belly. Bill and feet red-lead; claws orange-ochre, brownish on 
their sides. 
Length 9 in.; wing 5; tail 2 j^. Bill from rictus to tip 2in. 
This beautiful species, which, strange enough, I never met with 
in China, is recorded from India, the Tenasserim, Sumatra, 
Borneo, and Japan, everywhere varying in size, length of wing, 
brilliancy of lilac tints, and size of the azure marking on the 
rump. In my specimen this last is reduced to a simple central 
line; but this I have also observed in specimens from other 
parts. Of the small Sumatran and Bornean variety Bonaparte has 
made his species H. lilacina (the H. coromanda minor , Schleg.), 
length of wing 4 inches; of the Japanese variety (the H. coro¬ 
manda major, Schleg.), H. schlegeli, length of wing 4|. But in 
our Formosan variety, which in local position is intermediate to 
the two, the wing is 5 inches. Further, the extent of this limb 
varies considerably in a series of skins which I have examined 
from Hindostan. 
This species appears to be resident in Formosa, inhabiting the 
lakes and rivers of the interior of the island, but is by no means 
common. 
The Coromandel Halcyon would appear, then, in these eastern 
regions to confine itself entirely to the islands, it never having 
yet been observed on the main of China, where its place is 
supplied by H. smyrnensis , L., and LI. atricapillus, Gmel,, the 
easternmost range of these two last being bounded by the coast- 
t 2 
