HA L C YON N IGE O -OYÂN LA .
(BLACK AND B LDE K IN G F ISH E R .)
Halcyon nigro-cyanea
Dacelo nigro-cyanea
Wail. P.Z.S. 1862, p. 165, pl. six ; Gray, Handl. of B. I, p. 93
Sehl. Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk. I l l , p. 250 (1865).
H. pileo saturate ultramarino : interscapulio et scapularibus nigerrimis: dorso postico et m-opygio loetissim è
cyaneis : gutture et torque pectorali albis : corpore reliquo subtus saturate ultramarino. Fem. suprà mari similis
sed subtus alba, torque lata pectorali ultramarinâ.
Hah. in p a rte septentrionali Novoe Guiueæ occidentalis.
Male. Head intense ultramarine, b rig h te r on the sides, a line o f b rilliant u ltramarine
commencing a t th e back o f each eye and encircling the nape ; middle’ o f the back aud
scapulars deep velvety black, a blue lu stre being apparent here and th ere on th e la tte r ;
wincr-coverts deep ultramai-ine, th e innermost greater coverts more brilliant, inclining to
cobait ; quills black, the o u ter web washed with deep u ltramarine ; lower portion oi the
back and rump b rillia n t cobalt ; u pper tail-coverts deep ultramarine ; ta il deep ultramarme
above, black beneath ; cheeks and ear-coverts j e t black ; chin dusky black ; th ro a t and a
na rrow band across the centre o f the breast, white ; res t o f the u nder surface o f the body
deep ultramarine, becoming black on th e sides of the body and lower abdomen ; under
winff-coverts black ; bill black, yellow a t th e extreme base ; feet black. Total length 8'5
inches, o f biU from fro n t 1*9, from gape 2-3, Aving 3-5, tail 2'8, tarsus 0*5, middle toe 0’8,
h in d toe 0 ‘3.
Female. Upper surface as in the male; entire u nder surface white, Avith the exception
o f a broad pectoral band o f deep ultram a rin e ; sides o f the body black; under AAung-coverts
black, some white; bill black, Avith more yellow on th e basal portion of the lower mandible
th an the male. Total len g th 9 inches, o f bill from fro n t 1-9, from gape 2‘2^, wing 3‘6, tail
2-8, tarsu s O’ó, middle toe^0*8, hin d toe 0-3.
Hah. No rth -W estern p a rt o f New Guinea {Wallace, Bermiein). .
This v e ry b eau tifu l species was first obtained in New Guinea by Mr. Wallace, Avho,
however, only obtained the female bird. A full account of the male Avas given more
recen tly by Professor Schlegel ( lc .), and by h is kindness I am able to give a figure ot tin s
sex from a specimen le n t me by him from the Leiden Museum.
N othing has y e t been recorded concerning its habits. , . „ , . i
T he upper figure in th e plate represents the type which has been kindly len t me by
Mr. Wallace. This is the identical specimen figured m the “ Proceedings. The nearer bird
is the male specimen le n t me by Professor Schlegel. The descriptions and measurements
a re tak en from the same birds.
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