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x 'r e CONCLUDIKB EEMAKKS,
also, I tak e to be a modiflcation o f Ha lc ym. W ith this genus we arrive a t the end o f the
long.tailed Dacelonma,; for th e remaining genera belonging to this subfamily are strictly
Alcedmme in form (th a t is to say, appear to be modelled on th e same type as th e true
Kingfishers), b u t yet by th e ir h abits belong to th e insectivorous section o f the family.
These genera are four in n um b e r-n am e ly , Ceyx, Ceycopsis, Ispidina, and Myioceyx.
\ r
They are all closely connected, in te r se\ and the lin k towai'ds Halcyon seems to be in the
lilac-baoked section o f th e genus Ceyx with th e lilac-backed section o f the genus Halcyon,
where th e ta il is ra th e r shorte r th an in most o f the other members o f th e genus. Myioceyx
I consider to be a modification o f Ispidina, th e difference in form of bill showing a peculiar
adaptation to insect food. Unfortunately the two species o f this genus are only represented
by th re e specimens in tho whole o f the Museums in th e world, so th a t nothing is known of
th e ir h abits. I have already (antea, p. vii.) enlarged upon what I consider to be the links of
connexion between th e subfamily Alcedminm and Bacelonince, so that, as these conclusions
carry us directly from Ceyx and Ispidina direct to A lc ym e and Co ry tlm iis, and thence to
Alcedo, we have only two genera left, namely CeryU and Pelargopsis. These two stand
apart from any other Kingfisher, but, by reason of th eir fishing-propensities and structure,
apparently belong to the Alcedimnæ, o f which they are th e most aberrant forms.
I f we endeavour to draw a phylum whereby th e affinities o f the Kingfishers may be
resolved, it would, I believe, tak e somewhat o f the form opposite.
A be tter idea may perhaps be gained by the accompanying map, which gives what I
conceive to be a fair idea of th e affinities of the Kingfishers a t present existing. The
nearest allies are several; and i t is possible th a t a close study o f each of th e families
Coraciadoe, Trogmidoe, Momotidoe, Galbnlidoe, Bucconidoe, Meropidæ, and Bucei'otîdoe would
give us data by which a clearer idea o f the Fissirostral group o f the CooajgormipJm might
be obtained ; and w hen th a t is done, i t is possible th a t many o f th e conclusions deduced from
a study o f the Kingfishers alone may have to be modified.
Lastly, th ere is one point to which I wish to draw attention ; and th at is th e distribution
of the two subfamilies ; for it will a t once be noticed th a t the Insectivorous K ingfishers have
th eir gi-eatest development in th e Austro-Malayan subregion, while the piscivorous Kingfishers
are found all over th e globe, except Oceania. I t is a moot question whether I am
right in snpposmg the Bucerotidæ to be the nearest allies o f the Alcedinidoe ; b u t certain it
is th a t the gradation o f Kingfishers from the extreme development o f piscivorous characters
to the extreme form o f Eeptilivorous Dacelo is very gradual, even in th e remains o f the
family now before our eyes ; and the modification in the form o f bill is also very plain, this
organ being gradually more and more compressed as the genera become more piscivorous ;
and if the insect-eaters are the oldest Kingfishers, we must assume th a t these peculiar forms
were still highly developed a t a very early epoch, and th a t from this origin a gradual
modified type spread itself over th e other regions. Only in th e same way th a t Professor
Huxley accounts for the distribution of Psittacnloe, can the distribution of Ceryle be
accounted for, and its isolated presence in th e New World be explained, while the distribution
of Alcedo might also be accounted for by some such conclusion. I t is, however,
to wiser heads th an mine th at I leave the consideration o f such matters. I have set before
them to th e best of my ability the facts connected with the Alcedinidoe as they exist at the
present day, and I tru st th a t some facts have transpired in th e present work to conduce to
the advancement o f my favourite science, while for the shortcomings of th e au th o r I crave
the leniency o f the critic.
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