I !
D A C E L O TYBODACELO
TYRO,
(MA NT LED K IN G F ISH E R .)
Dacelo tyro,
Sauromai~i>tis tyro.
Gray, P.Z.S. 1858, p. 171, pl.
Cab. and Heine, Mus. Hein. th. II, p. 1G4, note (1860).
D. scapularibus et interscapulio nigerrimis : sexibus vix distinguenclis : pileo cum genis et regione paroticà
nigris, oehraceo maculatis : torque cervicali et dorso superiori nigris, oehraeeo faseiatis : pectore ochraceo.
Hai), in insulis P apuanis dictis “ A ru .”
H e a d , ch e ek s a n d e a r* c o v e rts b la c k , s p o tte d w ith l ig h t o c h r e ; b a c k a n d s id e s o f th e
n e c k to g e th e r Avith th e u p p e r p a r t o f th e b a c k b la c k , b a n d e d Avdth d e e p e r o c h re ; s c a p u la rie s
b la c k ; Aving-covei’ts b la c k , b ro a d ly w a s h e d A v ith b r ig h t b lu e ; Aving-feathers b la c k ish , th o
in n e r w e b lig h t ru f o u s from th e b a s e , th e e x t e r io r w e b b ro a d ly m a rg in e d Avith in d ig o , m o re
e sp e c ia lly o n th e se c o n d a rie s ; low e r p a r t o f th e b a c k a n d u p p e r t a i l c o v e rts b r ig h t c o b a lt ;
t a i l a b o v e in d ig o , b e n e a th b la c k ; th r o a t Avhitish o c h r e ; u n d e r - s u r f a c e o f th e b o d y d e e p
o c h re , d e e p e s t o n th e fla n k s a n d u n d e r tail-cove i*ts ; b i l l Avith th e u p p e r m a n d ib le d e e p b lack ,
th e low e r m a n b ib le yciloAv ; fe e t d u s k y b la c k . T o ta l le n g th 12 in c h e s , o f b ill from fr o n t l.G,
from g a p e 2 .5, Aving 6, t a i l 4 .7 , ta r s u s 0 .0 , m id d le to e 1, h in d to e 0.4.
Hah. A ru Islands ( Wallace, von Rosenherg).
T h is remarkably handsome species, ju s tly characterized b y Mr. Gould as “ one o f the
finest o f Mr. Wallace’s discoveries,” seems to be confined to the A ru Islands. Professor
Schlegel in the “ Museum des P ay s Bas” and again in h is “ Vogel A'an Nederlandsch
in d ie ” insisted th a t i t Avas only the y oung o f Dacelo Gaudichaudi, a conclusion th a t a su b sequent
consideration compelled him to rectify {I.e.), and he noAv recognises i t as a distinct
species. Mr. Gould has giA^eu a very b eautiful plate in th e tAvelfth p a rt o f his “ Birds of
Asia” representing the male and female.
The h abits o f th e present b ird exactly resemble those of D. Gaudichaudi according to
Mr. Wallace. My d escription and measurements are taken from a finely preserved skin in
liis collection, procured by him in the A ru Islands. The female resembles the male, A\-ith
th e exception o f th e wing-feathers aud th o tail, Avhich have a greenish tinge.
Additional references.— Dacelo tyro, Gray, Cat. Birds from New Guinea, p. 19 (1858% id. P. Z. S. 1861,
p. 433, Gould, Birds of Asia, pi.—(I860), Bosenb. Journ. f. Orn. 18C4, p. 118, Sclilogol, Ned. Tidsclir. 1866, p.