148 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : 



Despite the fact of this bird being a terror to the poultry 

 housewife, it is a general favourite, and the farmer, when 

 ploughing, is frequently followed by these birds, which 

 pick up the grubs as the latter are turned out by the 

 plough. They are voracious feeders, and will gorge on 

 grubs until they are hardly able to fly, and in such cases 

 they will hop on to a fence, and, if they are not too much 

 surfeited with food, will usually " laugh " for several 

 moments at a stretch. When perched upon a limb, with 

 a lizard or some other food between its claws, it has a 

 singularly knowing look. 



The Giant Kingfisher is a capital mouser, and when in 

 confinement will soon leave but few mice about the place. 

 Sparrows, too, are frequently taken, especially when barely 

 able to fly, the older birds being as a rule too wary for our 

 Kingfisher friend. It is very amusing to see one of these 

 birds, high up on the outstretched branch of a tree, banging 

 a lizard against the limb until the life is knocked out of the 

 unfortunate prey, which is then swallowed whole. 



It makes a good pet bird for the garden, and, when not 

 injured and able to get about, even the persistent sparrow 

 gives it a wide berth. 



The Giant Kingfisher is found over the whole of 

 Australia. 



