190 J\lr. 11. Hall on Birds 



the western boy is very much that of the eastern uhen this 

 bird is seen for the lirst time, judging by the remark he 

 makes : " Look at the Wattle -bird^s nest on which some one 

 has thrown a piece of bark." As the " bark '^ moves the 

 true state of affairs becomes apparent : it is a Frog-mouth 

 upon it. Mimicry of wood and bark is a distinctly protective 

 act. 



Two nests observed (13.10.99) were composed of a meagre 

 number of short twigs with a few lanceolate green leaves 

 upon each cluster, Avliile both were upon horizontal forks. 

 Breadth of nest 8 inches by 5 ; there was but a slight depres- 

 sion : it was placed in a Banhsia, 8 feet from the ground. 

 The young faced the wind and the nesting parent had to be 

 almost pushed away. 



49. Halcyon pyuiuiopyaius. lled-backed Kingfisher. 

 (Hall's Key, p. 57.) 



A. Sk. ad. c? . I 27.io.99. Geraldton. 



B. Nestlings. J 



The appearance of the nestlings, which are but a few days 

 old, is surprising. A mass of highly refractive and pale 

 silvery-blue quills, that are exceedingly long, makes them 

 appear very different to young birds in general. These quills 

 shew no barbs and each feather is still within its sheath, in 

 which the barbules are feebly developed. The quills of the 

 whole ventral surface are silvery white, less so on the throat. 

 The quills of the head ai^e fine, imbricated, and silvery in 

 appearance. The quills of the wings and back are pale silvery 

 blue. The tail-quills are deep blue for the partly exposed 

 basal two-thirds ; silvery blue for the terminal third. The 

 upper tail-coverts are also in the quill stage, being white 

 with a rufous tint upon tiitm, as if to indicate the coming 

 rufous coverts proper. Beginning at the interscapulium, 

 passing along the spinal tract, and ending below the rump 

 is a series of nut-brown quills that indicate the future area 

 of chestnut feathers. The tip of the beak is pink like the 

 lower mandible, which has a subterminal black band. Both 

 tips are sharply decurved (in each specimen), as if the bird 



