MOSELEY’S KINGFISHER.
- Actenoides moseleyi Steere, List. Birds & Mams. Steere Exped. (1890), 11.
- Halcyon moseleyi Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1892), 17, 288; Hand-List (1900), 2, 61; Grant, Ibis (1896), 557; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 55.
Negros (Steere Exp., Whitehead).
“Immature female (type of species).—Similar to H. lindsayi, but distinguished by the edgings of the breast-feathers, which are black and not green. ‘Bill black, culmen and lower mandible yellow; legs and feet greenish.’ (Moseley.) Length, 264; culmen, 46; wing, 109; tail, 86; tarsus, 14.” (Sharpe.)
“Moseley’s kingfisher, a truly splendid species, is represented by three fully adult males. The only example previously known is the immature female originally described by Prof. Steere. From this female type the male birds before me appear to differ in the following points: The lower ear-coverts are chestnut instead of buff, the moustachial stripes cobalt-blue, like the band round the crown of the head, and there is a small triangular green patch in the middle of the black interscapular region. From the adult male of H. lindsayi they are easily distinguished by the generally black ground-color of the mantle and scapulars, as well as by the black margins to the feathers of the breast and flanks, only those in the middle of the breast being tinged with greenish. Length, 254; wing, 107; tail, 80; tarsus, 18.” (Grant.)
“Discovered by Mr. E. L. Moseley after whom it was named by Dr. Steere. But one specimen was secured by him. We searched diligently for this fine Halcyon on our return to Negros, but failed to find it. It is undoubtedly extremely rare there. So far as we know at present this species is confined to Negros, and no closely related species is known from any island nearer than Luzon.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Suborder BUCEROTES.
Family BUCEROTIDÆ.
Bill very large; culmen curved, its basal part expanded into a hollow casque, or else the sides of the bill deeply chiseled; eyelids with large lashes; wings short and rounded; tail-feathers long and broad; outer and middle toes united for basal two-thirds, inner and middle toes united for basal joint; plumage harsh and rough; large noisy birds of heavy flight. The Philippine species are all well-marked and easily identified.