OCR Text |
Show 1877.] BIRDS OF TONGATABU, FIJI, ETC. 739 The tips of the wings extend beyond tbe end of the tail about lines; the tail is entire. The New-Caledonian bird (C. leucopygia, Wall. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 384) seems to differ, as we learn from M. Verreaux's original description (C. linchi, Verr. & Des Murs, Rev. et Mag. Zool, 1862, p. 129), specifically in the rhachis of the rump-feathers being black, and in the want of the white spot on the inner web of the second and third tail-feathers. 3. HALCYON JULLE (Heine). Halcyon juliee, Sharpe, Mon. Kingf. p. 227, tab. 86 ; Tristram, Ibis, 1876, p. 260. Dacelo grayi, Schleg. Mus. P. B. Alced. (1863), p. 37. H. sacra, F. & H.Orn. Central-Polyn. p. 32 (spec, ex New Hebrides and New Ireland? p. 34). No. 117. Api. Female. " Eyes black ; upper mandible black, lower flesh-colour ; legs greyish ; the stomach contained insects, and a small molluscous shell "-J. M. When placed among an extensive series of H. sacra, this specimen seemed to be nothing more than a dull-coloured specimen of that species, having the greenish shine of the back exactly the same as in No. 7 (from Tongatabu); but the same dull green also prevails on the head ; and this would form the only mark of distinction. The rufous band round the head is not so developed as in Sharpe's plate ; there is only a buff supercilium ; and the head-band is only indicated by some buff feathers ; the neck-collar is white, not buff; the black band which runs from beneath the eyes round the hind neck is very narrow. A specimen in the Bremen Museum, said to be from New Ireland (procured from Mr. Frank), and described by us (/. ci) as H. sacra, agrees perfectly with Sharpe's plate, and may be considered to be also H. juliee. 4. ARTAMUS MELALEUCUS, Forst. Loxia melaleuca, Forst., Licht. Descr. Anim. 1844, p. 272. No. 119. Api. Male. " Bill light blue, the tip black; eyes hazel; legs black ; the stomach contained insects, chiefly beetles." -J. M. Exactly like specimens from New Caledonia; the wing a trifle shorter. Latit. rostr. a rostr. Long. Long. al. caud. front, a basi. tars. in. lin. in. hn. in. in. in. 4 9 2 3 74 44 7 New Hebrides. 4 11-5 2 2 5 7% 4\ 8 New Caledonia. The New Hebrides seems to be a new locality for this species. On its differences from the nearly allied A. pelewensis, Finsch, cf. Journ. Mus. Godeffr. Heft xii. 1876, p. 41. |