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Show 1885.] DURING THE VOYAGE OF T H E YACHT ' MARCHESA.' 255 in the absence of any definite information, it is quite possible Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay's birds may have come from Sulu. The broad white postocular stripe, whitish rump, and unbarred back and tail, together with the yellow throat and broad scarlet occipital band, render the diagnosis of this species easy. 12. EURYSTOMUS ORIENTALIS (L.). Coracias orientalis, Linn. S. N. i. p. 159, no. 4. Eurystomus orientalis, Wald. Tr. Z. S. vol. ix. part ii. p. 152; Sharpe, Tr. Linn. Soc. 2nd series, Zool. vol. i. Hab. Luzon, Cujo Island, and Guimaras (Meyer) ; Zebu, Panaon, Leyte, Dinagat, Basilan, and Palawan (Everett) ; Negros (Layard, Steere); Mindanao (Steere) ; Sulu (Guillemard); Celebes (For st en); Borneo (Wallace). a. 6* • Sulu. b-d. $. Sulu. No sexual differences in plumage. These birds correspond with others from more western localities, and exhibit none of the paleness of colouring of the so-called E. pacificus. Iris bright brown ; bill and tarsus scarlet. Length 27*5-28 centims.; wing 17*7-18*7 centims. This species did not appear common in the Sulu Archipelago. They are active in their movements, taking short, restless flights, and are consequently somewhat difficult to obtain. In the middle of the month of May, I watched a pair constantly passing in and out of a hole in a lofty tree, in which they appeared to have young ones. 13. ALCEDO BENGALENSIS, Gm. Alcedo bengalensis, G m . S. N. i. p. 450, no. 20 ; Sharpe, Monogr. Alcedinidse, pi. 2 ; Walden, Tr. Z. S. vol. ix. part ii. p. 152. Hab. Luzon (Meyer) ; Negros (Steere) ; Zebu, Leyte, and Bohol (Everett); Mindanao (Steere) ; Sulu (Guillemard); Borneo (Beccari, Mottley). a. 2 ' Maimbun, Sulu Island. Iris brown ; upper mandible black, lower red ; tarsus bright coral red. Length 16-7 centims.; wing 7*2 centims. This bird does not seem to have as yet been recorded from Celebes, though I have myself obtained it on that island. Mr. Wallace has found it as far eastward as Gilolo. 14. ALCEDO ASIATICA, Swains. Alcedo meningting, Horsf. Tr. L. Soc. xiii. p. 172. Alcedo asiatica, Swains. Zool. 111. 1st ser. i. pi. 50; Sharpe, Monogr. Alcedinidse, p. 23, pi. 7. Hab. Sulu (Guillemard) ; Borneo (S. Miiller) ; Celebes (Wallace). a. 2 • Maimbun, Sulu Island. Iris light brown ; bill coral red, except the ridge of the culmen, which is black; tarsus bright coral. Length 16*4 centims.; wing 6*6 centims. Cheeks strongly marked with blue. |