on Dr. Jerdon’s ‘Birds of India’ 
34 7 
rapidly, in large circles, with quick strokes of the wing, like the 
flight of Woodpeckers, and frequently swooping down upon one 
another with loud chattering. When perched, their note is a 
single full deep-toned whistle, or something between that and 
the sound “ you,” when uttered with forcible expulsion of the 
breath.” Mr. Gould gives some further particulars of the habits 
of this genus (Handb. B. Austral, i. p. 120). 
127. Halcyon leucocephalus. 
I have already noticed (Ibis, 1865, p. 30) the existence of 
five geographical races of this bird. Dr. Cabanis (Mus. Hein, 
ii. p. 156) adopts the name H. gurial, Pearson, for the Indian 
race, and H. javana (Bodd.) for the Malacca race; though the 
Javan bird differs from that of the Malayan Peninsula, having 
a pale brownish cap not well defined, whereas the Malaccan bird 
has a well-defined dark brown cap, which is slightly glossed with 
bright colouring. Professor Schlegel, however, states that a Ni- 
palese example is absolutely similar to specimens from Java! 
One from Timor resembled the ordinary Malayan Peninsula race. 
Captain Beavan writes to me that that the Andaman race “ has 
the head much whiter than in Bengal,” in which case it should 
be identical with the Burmese race. I have observed no varia¬ 
tion in specimens from India and Ceylon. 
128. Halcyon amauropterus. 
Prof. Schlegel places this bird as a variety of the last! No 
two species can be more dissimilar in voice, as long ago remarked 
by myself, and duly noticed by Dr. Jerdon. 
129. Halcyon ruscus (Bodd.); Gould, B. As. pt. xiii. pi. 
With Strickland (Ann. Mag.N.H.ix.p.442) and Dr. Jerdon (in 
his a List of Errata ”) I doubt the propriety of separating this bird 
from the H. smyrnensis (L.) of Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, Persia, 
and Arabia as I would separate the two preceding species; but at 
most would regard it as a slight geographical variety analogous to 
those of H. leucocephalus. Mr. Gould remarks —“ The only differ¬ 
ences which I am able to detect between it and the Smyrna bird 
are a slight variation in size and in brilliancy of colouring, the 
Indian being somewhat smaller and more intense and beautiful 
in colour.” Such is the Malayan Peninsula race of H. leuco- 
