.
A L C Y O N E A F F I N I S .
AL C YO NE L E S S O N I .
u -
A L C Y O N E A F F I N I S .
( B A T C H I A N K I N G F I S H E K ) .
Gray, P . Z. S. 1860, p. 348.
Sharpe, P . Z. S. 1869, p. 354.
Schl. Vog. Ned. Ind. pp.Alcyone a z u r e a ...................................... 11, 47 pl. 3, (1864).
A. torque pectoraKmillo: oldomine rufo; rostro robustiore: supra Iretissime ultramarma.
Hab. in insulis “ Batchian” e t “ Gilolo” dictis.
Above b rin ia n t riti-amarine,_ b rig h te st on tbe b a ck ; wing-coverts black washed with
u ltram a rm e ; quills blackish, the in n er web lig h t rufo u s a t the base, th e o u ter web o f the
secondaries narrowly edged with ultramarine ; a v e ry small loral spot faint rufous ; th ro a t
and a longitudmal p atch o f feathers along the sides o f th e neck whitish tin<^ed with orano-e-
rufous, p aler on th e c h in ; cheeks, ear-coverts, and a p atch o f feathers on th e sides o f the
u pper p a rt o f the b rea st brilUant u ltram a rin e ; u n d e r surface o f the body rufous v n th a
rich li ac lu stre (in the flanks ; feet r e d ; biU broiimish black, towards th e tip ’whitish,
to ta l length 6*7 inches, o f b ill from fro n t 1-6, from gape 2*0, wing 3-85, ta il 1-2, tarsus
0'3, middle toe 0 ‘5, hind toe 0*25.
H a i. Batchian, Gilolo (Wallace).
This bird is easily distmguished from its congener Alcym e Lessoni, by its slio-htlv
smaller size and b y th e b rig h te r colour o f th e blue on th e u pper surface. The bill is
remarkably s to u / as m il be seeu on reference to the plate. Several examples are in the
Leiden Museum from Batchian and Gilolo, and the description and figures a re tak en from a
specimen from the la tte r island in Mr. A. E . Wallace’s collection Ì
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