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SYMA FLAVIROSTRIS.
(A U S T RA L IA N SAW -B ILL ED K IN G F ISH E R .)
Halcijon {Syma ?) flavirostris.
Halcyon Jlavirostris,
Syma flavirostris,
Halcyon torotoro
Gould, P. Z. S. 1850, p. 200.
„ Contr. to Ora. 1850, p. 105.
„ Birds of Austr. Suppl. pt 1, pl. — (1851).
Roich. Ilandb. Alced. p. 44, t. ccccxxx, fig. 3171-72 (1851).
Gould, Handb. Birds of Austr. I, p. 135 (1865).
Jlacgill. Toy. Ratti. II, p. 356 (1852).
S. minor : pileo aurantio-rufo : rostro flavo, culmine versus apicem nigi-o : caudâ viridi-coeruleâ : tectricibus
alarum viridi-fuseis.—Fem. pileo medio nigro et vittâ nuchaii nigrâ distinguenda.
Hab. in peninsula Austi-aliro septentrionalis “ Cape York" dicta.
rufous from the b a s e ; lower p a rt o f th e back and upper surface o f the tail greenish-blue,
u nder surface o f th e la tte r blackish-brown; chin w h ite; under-surface o f th e body lig h t
orange, p a ler on the abdomen; b ill yellow, the culmen brownish-black; feet orange.
T otal len g th 7 inches, o f b ill from fro n t 1.3, from gape 1.8, wing 2.8, ta il 2.4, tarsu s 0.4,
middle toe 0.6, h in d toe 0.05.
Female.— Similar to the male, b u t a trifle larger, th e colours more dingy, aud the
middle o f the crown o f th e head b la c k ; th e black stripe a t th e sides o f the neck more
d istin c t and forming a complete band in some specimens.
Hab. Cape Y o rk P eninsula, N. Australia'C-J/atyi'ffirray).
_ I have examined many specimens o f th is ra re Kingfisher, and believe i t to be quite
d istin c t from th e allied species S yma torotoro from New Guinea. By Dr. Sclater aud P ro fessor
Schlegel th e p resen t species has been considered to be only the young o f the New
Guinea bird, b u t at th e tim e th a t, Dr. Sclater wrote, Syma torotoro was only known from
Lesson’s figure in th e “ Zoologie” o f the Voyage o f the Coquille. B u t we are now well
acquainted with both species, and I have ly in g before me a t the present moment four specimens
o f Syma jiaviiv.sii'i'i o u t o f my o-wn collection, and a very b eautiful p a ir o f Syma
torotoro procured b y Mr. Wallace, and kin d ly len t to me o u t o f his collection. I find th at
the present species is a lto g eth er smaller and less b rig h tly coloured than its New Guinea
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