638 Messrs. H. C. Robinson (Did W. S. Laverock on 



70. ■^Mekops ornatus Latli. ; Sliarpe, Cat. Birds Brit. 

 Mas. xvii. p. 74 (1892). 



Two adult males in freshly moulted plumage. 



" Plentiful ; nesting in flat sandy country in holes about 

 four feet long, with the nesting-chamber about 18 inches 

 from the surface. Iris red ; feet and bill black " [Olive). 



On the Stewart River, where the Overland Telegraph wire 

 from Cape York crosses the stream, I (H. C. R.) found this 

 species to be especially abundant in August 1896, perching 

 on the wire in groups of five or six. 



71. t^URYSTOMUS PACIFICUS (Lath.). 



Eurystomus australis Sharpe, t. c. p. 36. 



Inaccurate though Latham's description undoubtedly is, 

 we think that after all his name should be employed. We 

 have examined large numbers of Latham's types, to whose 

 authenticity no possible doubt attaches, and it is extraordi- 

 nary to find how difficult it is to reconcile the descriptions 

 of many of them with the actual specimens from which these 

 descriptions were taken. 



" Found in forest country. Plentiful but rather shy and 

 difficult to procure, as it always perches in lofty trees ; 

 occurs, as a rule, in flocks, but sometimes in pairs or singly. 

 Iris brown ; bill and feet red " [Olive). 



72. Dacelo gigas (Bodd.) ; Sharpe, t. c. p. 204. 



Dacelo gigas, subsp. minor Robinson, Hull. Liverp. Mus. 

 ii. p. 116 (1900). 



At one time, Avith only young specimens before us, we 

 were inclined to consider that the North Queensland form 

 might perhaps be subspecifically distinguished by the absence 

 of blue on the rump and wings, and by its smaller size. We 

 find, however, that this is not the case, as the receipt of a 

 small series from Cairns shows that adult birds are, if any- 

 thing, brighter in coloration than more southern specimens, 

 though in size they are on the average slightly smaller. 



" These birds feed on reptiles and are found in open 

 forest-country, generally solitary, though the mate is never 

 far away. The nest is made in the small ' termitaria ' which 



