548 



NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Eggs. — Clutch, five to seven ; round in shape, contracted at one 

 end; texture of shell fine; surface exceedingly glossy; colour, pearly- 

 white. Dimensions in inches of a clutch: (1) 9 x -76, (2) 9 x -75, 

 (3) 87 X -74 ; of a set which is larger, taken in Tasmania ; (1) -94 x -78, 

 (2) -94 X -75, (3) -92 x -78. 



Ohservatiom. — What obscn-er has not hngercd in some sylvan nook, 

 by the margin of a tranquil stream, and wth admiration watched this 

 beautiful species pass quickly up or down over the siu^acc of the water, 

 displaying in a flash of splendour its fine ultramarine coat, and uttering 

 at intervals its single squcak-likc note ] — or has not seen the bird silently 

 perched on a twig or dead branch of a snag, where, with spasmodic 

 motions of the head, it fully exposes its rich buff or reddish-orange 

 breast, while now and again, like an arrow, it darts into the water to 

 capture finny spoil ? 



In bycgonc days 1 often found the nesting place of the Blue King- 

 fisher in the shelving banks of the Yarra, behind Toorak, lu-ar 

 ^Melbourne. The entrance was about 1 1 inches in diameter. At 

 the termination of the tunnel, which ascended slightly for twelve or 

 fifteen inches, was a chamber between six and seven inches in diameter, 

 for the reception of the eggs. The floor of this chamber, which was 

 below the level of the tunnel leading to it, was usually filled with an 

 accumulation of small fish bones and remains of water-beetles, amongst 

 whidi the peai-ly-white eggs rested. Once I found a nest near Lake 

 King, Gippsland, but away from water, in a small bank tiiat had 

 been caused by the uprooting of a fallen tree. The nest contained 

 eggs, and was discovered by the bird flying out at my feet. 



The breeding season commences in September (August according 

 to Gould), la.sting till January, during wliicli period prob.ibly two broods 

 arc reared. Gould states liiat inunedialely on leaving their nest the 

 young follow their parents from one part of the river to another, aiul 

 are fed while resting on some stone or Ijrancli ne.ar the water's edge. 

 They soon, however, become able to obtain their own food, and may be 

 observed at a very early ago diving into the water for a considerahle 

 depth to capture small fish or water insects. In Southern Queensland 

 this beautiful Kingfisher commences, usu.ally, to excavate it.s nest in 

 Octoljer. It .sometimes succeeds in rearing a large family. As many 

 as six fat fledgelintjs have been sei^ii luiddied together in their eartliv 

 ceU. 



With regard to the Tjusuianian variety. Dr. Sliaipe states : 

 "A. (liemenenxiK cannot be separated from .1. azxirrn, and the 

 characters on which I de])ende<I in my ' Monngi-.Tpli ' are merely those 

 of an immature bird. ' 



Mr. A, V^. Brent has found tlic T.isuianian birds breeding .somewhat 

 plenlifilllv on the Duck River diniiii; iIh' months of Ortolicr and 

 November. 



It will i)C observed liiat llie eggs of the Tasmaiii.in Hlue Kinglislier 

 are larger than tho.sc of the mainland variety. 



