172 



"at least twice its own length, and repeat the operation in 

 "an hour." 



Those who have been startled at the Zoo by its 

 lond and weird cachinnation, which may certainly be 

 likened to a cross between an idiotic laugh and a 

 donkey's bray, will realise in a measure its startling 

 and uncanny effect amid the quietude of early morning 

 in the Australian bush. 



In many respects the habits of the two species are 

 similar. I must saj^ here, that for the following notes 

 on their wild life, I am indebted to Mr. Payne of the 

 Little Zoo, Bath, who, on a recent vist, kindly des- 

 cribed to me their demeanour, etc. in the bush. 

 Messrs. Payne and Wallace were the importers of the 

 fine specimen of the Buff Laughing Kingfisher which 

 has been placed on deposit at the Zoo by the Hon.W. 

 Rothschild, and at the present time is the only one 

 in Europe. 



Inctibation is stated to occupy about three weeks, 

 but is most probably a day or so less than that 

 period. Their nesting site is always at the top of high 

 trees, and usually made by scooping out a White Ants' 

 nest in the fork of a tree. The yoiuig remain in the 

 nest about three weeks, and are fully adult in twelve 

 months, in fact thej'^ breed the following season. 



Diet : This consists of lizards, snakes, frogs, grass- 

 hoppers, and any living thing that is small enough to 

 be swallowed. They lay or sit in wait for prey on the 

 branch of a tree, swoop down, upon it with closed 

 wings and spear it with their bill ; returning to the 

 tree, the capture is banged about till killed, then 

 swallowed whole. 



General : Strange to say these two Kingfishers 



