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.
Genera.
a1. Tail uniform, white, dirty buff, or yellowish brown, with no
black bar.
b1. Bill bright red for its basal half at least; body plumage not
all black. ... Hydrocorax (p. 327)
b2. Bill not red; plumage, except tail, all black.
c1. Bill entirely black. ... Anthracoceros (p. 330)
c2. Bill nearly all white. ... Gymnolæmus (p. 331)
a2. Tail not uniform in color, a wide black or blackish bar at its end.
b1. Bill not bright red. ... Penelopides (p. 332)
b2. Bill bright red. ... Craniorrhinus (p. 338)
Genus HYDROCORAX Brisson, 1760.
Bill and casque very large, the latter flat on top, overhanging on
each side and its posterior border overhanging and extending to above
the ear; bill smooth except for a few shallow furrows on base of lower
mandible; chin and throat feathered; a small bare space about the eye.
Species.
a1. Upper outline of casque straight, its anterior end forming a
projection which overhangs the culmen in front.
b1. Casque and bill entirely bright red. ... hydrocorax (p. 327)
b2. Casque and basal half of bill bright red, terminal half of bill
whitish. ... mindanensis (p. 328)
a2. Upper outline of casque not straight, its anterior end
sinking to the culmen and not forming an anterior overhanging
projection. ... semigaleatus (p. 329)