550 S'ESTS A\D EGCS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



439. -Alcyone pcsilla, Temiiiinck. — {12) 



LITTLE KINGFISHER. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, £ol., vol. ii., pi. 26. 

 Rcferenct. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xvii., p. 171. 



Ge<j//raj/hical Didrihution. — Northern Tcrritorj' and Nortli Queens- 

 land ; also New Guinea. 



Nent. — A hole, usually in the bank of a mountain stream. 



Eyys. — Clutch, five probably. Undescribed. 



Observations. — This tiny creature, which is only 5 inches in length, 

 is interesting because it is probably the smallest of its tribe in the 

 world. With the intense blue of its coat and silky white undcr-surfacc, 

 it may be .said to resemble a miniature MacLeay or the Forest King- 

 fisher. 



Tlio lovely Little Kingfisiicr is a native of Northern Aastralia. and 

 is found as far down the Queensland coast as Cardwcll, where Mr. K. 

 Broadbcnt observed it .somewhat common, but most frequently found 

 in the smaller scrubby creeks. Leaving the neigiibourhood of the roast, 

 it resorts in October to the heads of the mount.iin streams, such as 

 occur on Gowtic Creek, at the base of Mount Graham, for the puiiwse 

 of breeding. By February and March, Mr. Broatlbcnt found the Little 

 Kingfisher again quite common alx»ut the estuaries of the small man- 

 grove creeks which intersect the beach. 



440. — Syma KLAVinosTHiB, Gould. — (07) 



YELLOW-BILLED KINGFISHER. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., supp., pi. 5. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xvii., p. 197. 



(Jriiiirajihiral Diilrilinlinii . — Northern Territory and North Queens- 

 land. 



Nest and Eyt/K. — Undescribed.* 



• Since writing this, through the courtesy of Mr. T. \. Ilrilllcbaiik, I have 

 l)ccn cii.'iblcd to de-cribc — Victorian .N'alnralisi, vol. xvi., ]>. 37 (1.S99) -a p.iir 

 III eggs from Cape Vork, taken January, i.Si^S, from a hollow, dead tree in open 

 scriil) near mangroves. The eggs arc roinid in .hapi', sharjily nipped off at 

 one end ; tckliire of sh<dl fine ; surface glosny ; 1 oloiir, pnn- while. Dimension- 

 in ini hes : (i) i-o x '^^H, (.4) i-o x '88. Must resemble those ul the Whilc-lailcd 

 Kingfisher 



