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Show 1879.] MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE BIRDS OF LABUAN. 331 that the blue on tbe coverts and scapulars is not so bright. It is obvious that the question can never be really settled till we have a number of carefully sexed and dated specimens; and meanwhile it may be remarked that great difficulties prevent the final acceptance of the explanation of the plumages above given ; for if they are right the females must be in the proportion of at least three to one, judging from the collection now lying before me. Again, as to the fate of C. rufldorsa (of which there are several specimens in Mr. Treacher's collection agreeing exactly with another from Sumatra and another from Malacca), the perfect gradation, as far as the Bornean specimens are concerned, between C. rufldorsa and C. dillwynni, leaves no doubt of the identity of these two species ; but then at present we no evidence of the occurrence of C. dillwynni out of Borneo. Ceyx rufldorsa from Malacca and Sumatra may either be a plumage of C. tridactyla or C. dillwynni, or it may be a good and distinct bird. This seems to be hardly likely; and should it turn out that C. dillwynni is found in Malacca and that C. rufldorsa is really synonymous, then the former name must be suppressed. Mr. Low procured three eggs of this species, along with a female bird in the plumage of C. sharpii, Salvad. As might be expected, these eggs are pure glossy white, axis 0*75, diam, 0*6. 36. HALCYON COROMANDA (Lath.). Halcyon coromanda, Sharpe, Mongr. Alced. pi. 57. Halcyon lilacina, Motl. & Dillw. t. c. p. 13. Callialcyon coromanda, Salvad. t. c. p. 101. Not very common, according to Governor Ussher. Mr. Treacher says it is also called " Bukaka," like the other kinds of Kingfishers. Mr. Low sends five eggs of this Kingfisher taken in Labuan in May 1873 : they are pure white, axis 1*2-1*25 inches, diam. 1*15-1*2. He also adds the following note : - " Burong Sakak, the large red or crimson Kingfisher. The nest is said to be pendulous and invariably to be accompanied in the same mass by a bee which is peculiarly vicious, so that the nest can only be robbed after destroying the bees; in the case of these eggs they set fire to the whole, unluckily." The nesting of this Kingfisher in a bee's nest seems to be a point of some interest. 37. HALCYON PILEATA (Bodd.). Halcyon pileata, Sharpe, Mongr. Alced. pi. 62. Entomobia pileata, Salvad. t. c. p. 102. Governor Ussher writes : - " In September 1876 I saw this Kingfisher in the swamp on the plain, and was near enough to distinguish the colours, but could not get a shot. There can be no doubt as to the identity of the bird, as I have since obtained specimens. It seems to leave in March or April." The native name given by Mr. Treacher and Mr. Low is " Bukaka." The latter gentleman sends five eggs of this species from Labuan ; they are pure white and rounded, axis 1*2, diam. 1*0. |