Report on the zoological collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean ...

24 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA.obsolete, and there is no difference between the two species exceptingthe hxrger size and whiter under surface of D. leacJiii.The types of D. oecidentalls from the Gould Collection are nowin the Museum ; and for the same reason that I dismissed thebarred outer tail-feather as a character for separating Z>. leachii fromD. ccrvinvs, so I must refuse to consider it a mark of distinctionbetween D. cer^vinns and D. occidentalis. The nearly uniform colorationof the under surface is a much more peculiar feature ; but inthe female there are some zigzag markings on the flanks. That thisuniform under surface is somewhat accidental is proved by the factthat none of Dr. Elsey's specimens in the British Museum, procuredin the same locality as Mr. Gregory's birds, are entirely withoutcross bars below.In the species from South-eastern New Guinea the appearance ofcross bars on the under surface seems to be the exception and notthe rule, the collar round the hind neck being also perfectly uniform.As with the Australian species, the cross bars are a sign ofimmaturity, being accompanied by a more uniform brown head.It would appear therefore, from a consideration of the aboveseries, that not one of the characters employed for the separation ofthese four Laughing Kingfishers is of permanent value. The barringof the tail-feathers must be set aside, being merely dependent uponage ; but taking D. cervinus as the central form or leading type ofthe blue-tailed Jackasses of Australia, we find that eastwards (inQueensland) it varies to the extent of becoming a larger bird, whiterunderneath, and always more or less barred on the under surface,the throat included {D. leachii). In the western part of its range thebird has a tendency to become uniform underneath {D. occidentalis) ;but this may be due to the bleaching effect of the climate, and it isevident that D. intermedius can only be looked upon as another palerace, being led up to by the western specimens of D. cervinus.49. Halcyon sanctns (V. Sf H.).Ramsay, t. c. p. 179,a, 6. 2 . Thursday Island, Aug. 7, 1881.c. (S Thursday Island, July 1, 1881.Ramsay, t. c, p. 179.50. Halcyon macleayi, J. 6,- S..a. (S . Thursday Island, Aug. 1881.51. Halcyon sordidus {Gould).Ramsay, f. c. p. 179.a. ?. Port Darwin, Nov. 1881.