.71 
to keep the eastern form separate. Eeferring to this question, Dr. Guillemard writes (P. Z. S. 1885, 
p. 568) that two specimens (from Ternate and Batchian) “have the pallor of the more eastern race, 
which is by Salvadori and others regarded as a distinct species under the name of E. pacijlcus. The 
third, a male from Ternate, is darker and of the occidental type. An examination of a series of 
skins from Malacca eastwards to New Guinea shows such a gradual shading of the western into the 
eastern form, that they appear to me to be hardly separable.” As previously stated, I found a consider¬ 
able variation in the series I have examined, both as regards size and coloration. Specimens from 
the Andaman Islands appear to vary less inter se than those from any other locality, and have the 
bill larger, nearly as large as in Eurystomus crassirostris. In size the variations from the diiferent 
localities are—gape 1-35 to 1-5 inch, wing 7T to 7’75, tail 3-9 to 4*5, tarsus 0-7 to 0-75. 
As regards coloration, the variation is very considerable, and what struck me most was the 
variation from blue to green in general tone of colour, and I have therefore deemed it advisable to 
give a figure of the most extreme form of each. Some specimens are much greener and others much 
bluer, hut much depends on the light, as in some lights the bird appears greener or bluer than it does 
in others. The greenest specimen I have examined is from Tenasserim, and the bluest from the 
Philippines, and the richest examples in general coloration and those having the head darkest are 
from the Philippines and Northern Borneo. 
The present species of Boiler appears to be essentially a forest-haunting bird, never found 
inhabiting any other than well-wooded localities, where it affects the tall dead trees and usually keeps 
at a great height, so that it is as a rule not easy to obtain. It is stated by most observers to be almost 
crepuscular in its habits, being seen chiefly in the early morning and late in the day, while during 
the warm portion of the day it is indolent and averse to move about, and remains chiefly on a dry 
branch of some dead tree. Dr. A. B. Meyer, however, says that “ it sleeps in the morning and searches 
for food at midday; in the evening it flies after beetles. It is to be seen near river-banks, where it 
sits a long time quietly on a branch of a tree over the water, and can easily be shot, not being a shy 
bird.” Mr. Swinhoe remarks that when resting on a branch it usually sits along and not across it, 
thus reminding one of a Goatsucker, and he found the bird shy and difficult of approach. Its 
flight is said to resemble that of its allies, but it usually flies at a greater altitude than most of them. 
Peale says that its flight so closely resembles that of the Kingfishers that one was shot by mistake, 
it having been taken for a large Kingfisher; and the Abbe A. David states that its flight is elevated, 
direct, sustained, and very rapid, and when on the wing the brilliant coloration of its wings shows 
well against the blue of the sky. It is bold and makes itself respected by the Kites and Crows. 
In captivity, he adds, it takes any sort of food, but is savage and bites hard, uttering a cry like a Jay, 
and it frequently climbs about on the furniture, making use of its bill like a parrot. Dr. Guillemard 
remarks that it is active in its movements, taking short restless flights, and he found it difficult to 
obtain. Mr. Davison, who, by the way, remarks that it may frequently be seen seated on some stump 
in a garden or other comparatively open place, from which perch it takes short flights, occasionally 
alighting on the ground to capture an insect, writes that on several occasions he saw it rise into the 
air and go through a regular series of fantastic evolutions, sometimes keeping them up for nearly 
three minutes. 
Its note is harsh and is said to resemble that of a Jay. Dr. Meyer describes it as resembling the 
syllables kiak, Mak, and Mr. Davison says that it is anything but musical, but that the bird is as a rule 
rather silent; and Peale remarks that a specimen when wounded uttered a harsh cry similar to that 
of some species of Parrot. Swinhoe compares the note with the yiiO-cJc of a Goatsucker, and Peie 
Armand David says that “ its call-note, which may be described by the syllable ka, is deep, guttural, 
