CLYTOCEYX REX, Sharpe.

Spoon-billed Kingfisher.

Clytoceyx rex, Sharpe, Ann. Nat. Hist. (5th ser.) vi. p. 231 (1880)

 

pas oe bird mewn is figured in the accompanying plate is a native of South-eastern New
a a oe PY be Oe a ae has ore collecting in flue interior about
eae pe, and the neighbouring localities. Having already in the course of the present work

had occasion to express some disappointment that the southern portion of the great Papuan island had
not produced the number of new species which one might reasonably have expected, I feel bound to
qualify this opinion when I see before me such an extraordinary form of bird as the present. It is evident
that the avifauna of the lowlands has too much resemblance to that of the adjoining continent of
Australia and to that of the Aru Islands for us to expect, until the mountains are reached, any thing
strikingly different from the birds of these two localities.
In the MS. list of birds sent by Mr. Hunstein he speaks of this species as the * Spoon-billed ” Kingfisher ;
and I have adopted this English name, not so much on account of its absolute correctness from an
w, but because it represents the first impression of the original collector. To

ornithological point of vie
Is the flattened and spatulated bill of the orthodox Spoonbill

ornithologists the epithet of “ spoon-bill” recal
(Platalea), or that of the spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurhinorhynchus) ; but the beak of this large Kingfisher
laced in opposition to each other.

more resembles the bowls of two spoons p
but they doubtless resemble those of

We have as vet no details as to the habits of the present species ;
the large ‘“ Jackasses” of Australia. The bills of the specimens sent were covered with dried earth, as
if the birds had been grubbing for food on the ground. Although the species is, no doubt, generically
of Australia, there can be no doubt that in the genus Dace/o it will

distinct from the Laughing Jackasses
fad) its nearest allies. Different as the bill is, there is one character which betrays this affinity ; and that
is seen in the difference of the sexes, the male having a blue tail, and the female a rufous one; this,
is one of the leading features in
I translate the original description given by Mr. Bowdler Sharpe.
Male. Head brown; feathers surrounding the eye and sides of the face brown ; ear-coverts black,
s of the neck and forming a broad band; a stripe above the eye, the
interscapulary region black ; scapulars and
t series washed with

as is well known, a true Dacelo.

extending backwards onto the side
a broad band on the neck ochraceous buff;
hraceous, the outermost of the leas
lly washed with dull green; lower back
ith green; throat white; rest

lower cheeks and
the latter margined with oc
blue; primary-coverts and quills dark brown, externa
tail-coverts and tail dark brown washed w

ing-coverts, ochraceous buff; quills dusky below, with the inner
1 1:95, wing 6°39, tail 4°7, tarsus 0°9.
The hind neck and the undersurface

wing-coverts brown,
greenish
and rump silvery cobalt ; upper
of the body underneath, with the unc
web margined with pale ochraceous. as

Female (immature). Differs from the male in its re
having dusky margins to the feathers, SO that oie bind

The figures in the Plate are drawn from the pair in the

ler w
Total length 12 inches, culmer
ddish tail.

is not quite adult.
British Museum.

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aR rm fiz oS OS ee CO