220 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



of three that tried to fight their shadows in water and finally 

 got drowned. I am sorry to write so, but this bird is rather 

 fond of stealing canaries when it is making its autumn tour 

 of the outskirts of suburbs. In a few words, it pounces upon 

 the cage, disconcerts the domesticated bird, and subsequently 

 gets it out piecemeal, if not whole. I have the knowledge of 

 at least a score of cases, though I say so without prejudice, 

 because of its other good qualities. 



Nesi. — Cup-shaped, made of twigs and lined with grasses 

 or rootlets. It is placed in any trees of the district, without a 

 preference being shown. 



Eggs. — Three or four to a sitting ; the ground colour may 

 be olive-green or tawny brow^n, spotted with dull chestnut 

 and nondescript black. Length, 1.25 inches; breadth, 

 1 inch. 



GREAT BROWN KINGFISHER 



(Laughing Jackass), 



Dacelo gigas, Bodd. 



Da-se'lo gi'gcis. 

 Dacelo, a transposition of alcedo, a Kingfisher ; gigas, giant. 

 Geographical Distribution. — Areas 3, 4, 6, 7 ; occasionally 2. 



Key to the Species. — Crown rufous-brown in centre, white on sides; 

 a band of brown on nape ; culnien ascending towards tip of upper 

 mandible. Total length, about 18 inches. 



Of all the Kingfishers in southern Australia this is the one 

 doing most damage in the destruction of useful lizards. At the 

 same time it keeps in subjection an amount of insect life, while 

 it feeds on rats, mice, and centipedes in addition. It steals 



