171 



after nie in the aviary. Very different in that respect 

 to PalcBornis. These are all in a commotion when I 

 enter. The loiigicaudas dash into the sleepinj^j house 

 if they have time. The docilis is the only one that 

 stands its ground. I am rather inclined to think it 

 would become friendly with anyone who had the gift 

 of taming birds. 



I do not know that docilis ever becomes such a 

 good talker as torgiiaius, but I should say after a good 

 eupatriics it is the best pet amongst the genus. Longi- 

 ca2ida never makes the noise the other members of the 

 family do, but then it is very stupid. Docilis is in- 

 telligent and does not make so very much noise. If I 

 could get a hen and breed them and bring up the 

 yoinig by hand I could make nice pets of the nest- 

 lings. They used to import them into France in the 

 nestling state, but now they seem difficult to get. 



ITbe XauGbiiiQ Ikingfisbcrs. 



1. Dacelo gigantea. 



2. Dacelo cervina. 



By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S. 



The two birds forming the subject of the plate 

 were photographed in the Western Aviary at the 

 London Zoo early this summer, and show the two 

 species inhabiting, the former Southern and the latter 

 Northern Australia. It is a most useful bird in its 

 native wilds, destroying an enormous number of 

 noxious and venomous reptiles. The late Dr. W. T. 

 Greene gives an instance in " Birds of Brit. Empire," 

 and relates a personal experience as follows : — 



" I once found a lizard in the crop of a Dacelo that was as 

 " long as the bird itself, and it will kill and swallow a snake 



