BY A. F. BASSET HULL. 677 



This bird is a very occasional visitor to both islands. I did 

 not see one on my visits, but was informed by residents in both 

 islands that it had been seen and shot occasionally. A specimen 

 was shot at Lord Howe Island by Mr. L. Waterhouse, in 1903. 



393(M). 53. Halcyon vagans Lesson. 



Norfolk Island Kingfisher; Kingfisher(L.H.I.); Norfolker 

 (Noffka: N.L). 



Hah. — Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. (New Zealand). 



This bird is found in large numbers on both islands. At 

 Norfolk Island it breeds in holes tunnelled in the clayey or 

 ^sandy banks. On the sides of the main road and quite close to the 

 township, Kingston, many hundreds of holes may be seen, some 

 partly excavated and abandoned on account of the hardness of 

 the ground, some used and deserted, and others in actual use 

 during the breeding season (September to December). In one 

 bank, which consisted of a mixture of sand and clay and was, 

 therefore, peculiarly suitable for boring, I counted no less than 

 40 holes in a space of 6 by 4 feet. Less frequently it breeds in 

 the gigantic tree-ferns, or in decayed portions of the Norfolk 

 Island Vmei^Araucaria excelsa). 



At Lord Howe Island this bird breeds only in the decayed 

 portions or hollow spouts of the huge Banyan tree(i^tcMS sp.). 



At the latter island the Kingfisher bears a bad reputation, it 

 •being asserted that it kills chickens out of pure mischief, and not 

 for food. It is, therefore, generally shot when it approaches too 

 close to the fowl-yard. At Norfolk Island it is regarded as quite 

 harmless, and is even held in atfectionate regard. Its local name 

 was given to it by the Pitcairn Islanders when they settled on 

 the island. There being no similar species at "Home"(Pitcairn), 

 they called this bright stranger the " Norfolker," which is now 

 shortened to " Noffka." 



Eggs, clutch 4 to 6, pearly white, glossy, varying from roundish 

 to slightly pointed ovals. Dimensions of a clutch of five — 

 ,{a)L08xO-88; (6)1-02 x 0-85; (c)l-08 x 0-85; (o?)l-08 x 0-84; (e) 

 1-02 X 0-86. (Norfolk Island, 7th November, 1908). 



