124 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



bill, and which proved to be a rare species. The Dacelo 

 gigas breeds during the months of August and September, 

 generally selects a hole in a large gum-tree for the purpose, 

 and deposits its beautiful pearl-white eggs, which are one 

 inch and nine lines long by one inch and five lines broad, 

 on the decomposed wood at the bottom. When the young 

 are hatched, it defends its breeding-place with great courage 

 and daring, darting down upon any intruder who may attempt 

 to ascend the tree. 



The sexes present so little difference in the colouring of 

 their plumage, that they are scarcely distinguishable from 

 each other ; neither do the young at a month old exhibit any 

 great variation from the adult, the only difierence being that 

 the markings are somewhat darker and the brown more gene- 

 rally diffused. 



It bears confinement remarkably well, and is one of the 

 most amusing birds for the aviary with which I am acquainted : 

 many examples have been brought alive to England ; and 

 several are now living in the Gardens of the Zoological Society 

 of London. 



Sp. 61. DACELO LEACHII, Vigors a?id Horsfield. 

 Leach's Kingfisher. 



Dacelo Leachii, Lath. MSS. Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. 

 p. 205. 



Dacelo Leachii, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ii. pi. 19. 



Since the completion of the folio edition, in which I was 

 only enabled to mention the existence of a few specimens of 

 this Kingfisher, so many examples have been sent to England 

 that it has now become common, and may be found in every 

 collection. Its habitat may be stated to be the Cape York 

 Peninsula and the northern part of Queensland. 



The habits, actions, food, and indeed the whole of the 

 economy of the Dacelo Leachii are so like those of the D. gigas 

 that a separate description of them is unnecessary. 



