XESTS AXD EGGS OF M'STRAUAX BIRDS. 551 



ObseriHitiom. — The Yellow-billed Kingfisher is one of the rare birds 

 of the rich sci-ubs of the northern part* of Australia. The 

 more intelhgent natives of Cape York, whom MacGilhvray questioned 

 separately, agreed in stating that it« mode of uiditicatiou was 

 similai- to that of the White-tailed l\inglisher ( Tanysiptera sylvia), 

 and that it, like that species, laid several white eggs. 



Sub-family — Dacelonin^. 



441. — Dacelo gigas, Boddaort. — (60) 



BROWN KINGFISHER (LAUGHING JACKASS). 



Figure. — Gould ; Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ii., pi. iS. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xvii., p. 204. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia (1S4S) ; 

 also Handbook, vol. i., p. 1J4 (1S65) ; North: Austn. Mus. 

 Cat., p. 36, pi. 6, fig. I (1SS9). 



Geographical Distribution. — Queensland, New Sotith Wales, Vic- 

 toria, South and West (introduced 1896) AustraUa. 



Xest. — In a hole or spouted limb of a tree ; but is sometimes, 

 especially in Queensland, in a hole drilled into the nest of ants or ter- 

 mites situated in a fork or upon the side of a standing tree. An instance 

 is known of a nest m;uie in the heart of a " calabash " — the fern, 

 Plafyeerium alcicome. 



Eggs. — Clutch, three to foiu-; round in shape, sharply contracted 

 at one end ; texture of shell fine ; surface glossy ; colour, piu'e white. 

 Dimensions in inches of a clut<-h : (1) l-9"2 x 1-45, (2) 1-83 x I'o, (3) 

 1-83 X 1-42. 



Observations. — The Great Brown Kingfisher (native name Kooka- 

 burra), or more commonly called Laughing Jackass, from its qtiaint 

 appeai'ance and its rolhcking laughter-like notes, is not only a favoiuite 

 amongst naturalists, but with every dweller in the bush. The adtilt 

 Laughing Jackass has a dusky back and \vings, some parts of the wings, 

 especially the shoulders, also the lower portion of the back, being 

 relieved with markings of blue. Tlie tail is brownish, banvd with 

 black. The rest of tlie plumage may be tenned buff, with a dark- 

 brownish wash on the feathers of the head and ear covei'ts. The 

 awkward-looking bill is browniish-black on the upper maadible, and 

 yellowish or p;ile buff on the under mandible, while the eyes are dark- 

 brown, and the feet yellowish. The total length of the bird is about 

 IS inches, including tail 5i inches, and bill 3 inches. 



