MNTSBPTEK& C A R O L ® « Schl.
TANYS IPTERA CAROLINAS, Schlegel.
Blue-breasted Tanysiptera.
Tanysiptera Carolina, Schl. N. T. D. iv. p. 13 (1873, ex Von Rosenb. MS.).—Id. Mus. P.-B. Revue Alcedines, p. 42
(1874).—Von Rosenb. Reist. Geelvinkbaai, p. 137, pl. 14. fig. 1 (1875).
No one can mistake this splendid Kingfisher for any species previously described; for it differs conspicuously
from all the other long-tailed Tanysipterce. O f the genus Tanysiptera Mr. Sharpe admits in his
‘ Monograph’ twelve species; and this is the only new one which has been discovered since he completed
his labours on the group. O f the twelve species enumerated hy him, ten have white breasts, while
T. nympha (from New Guinea) and T. sylvia (from North-east Australia) have the breasts vermilion
and cinnamon-colour respectively. I t needs, therefore, no more than a glance at the blue under surface of
the present bird to see th at in this respect it is not approached by any other member o f the genus ; and
one cannot but congratulate Baron von Rosenberg on his discovery of such a fine novelty.
T h e following is the account given by Professor Schlegel in his description of the bird :—
“ T his new species was discovered by M. von Rosenberg in the island o f Mefoor, situated in the great
Bay o f Geelvink, and is distinguished at a glance from all the other species known up to the present day by
the under surface being o f the same deep blue as the upper, instead o f being white o r reddish. I t will be
sufficient to point out the following facts to give an idea o f this beautiful bird.
“ Size, form, beak, and feet as in Tanysiptera dea.
“ Male and female adult.— General colour a bluish violet, passing to purple cobalt on the upper part of
the head, to blackish on the quills and under surface o f the wings, and to pure white on the rump and anal
reg io n ; tail-coverts and tail white, hut the contracted p art o f the tail-feathers b lu e ; this p a rt is very narrow
and constantly with the webs almost totally worn ; beak o f a lively red.
“ Young o f both sexes.— Bill blackish; upper parts o f the bird with the sides of the head and the lower
surface of the wings coloured as in the a d u lt; lower parts clear rufous, varied with blackish excepting on
the chin and the middle of the th ro a t; rump and upper tail-coverts pure white more o r less washed with
rufous, with blackish s tre ak s ; under tail-coverts w h ite ; tail-feathers white for the lengthof their shafts, the
res t pale black passing on the upper surface to more or less dark b lu e ; the two centre feathers are but
slightly elongated, a little contracted, but with very distinctly indicated spatules. Wing from 3" 10'" to
4" 2"', centre tail-feathers 6" to 7" 3"', bill from front 7"'. I t is a noteworthy fact that M. von Rosenberg
does not appear to have met with Tanysipteras, during his voyage to the Geelvink Islands, in Meosnoum, or
in Jo b ie.”
Bill, in adult, fine red ; feet purplish brown.
My Plate is drawn from a fine specimen sent to me in exchange from the Leiden Museum ; and the bird
is represented of about the natural size.