173 



spend the greater part of the year in the drj' forest 



region, only occupying the vicinity of lagoons and 



creeks during the wet season, which is from January 



to March. They roost amid the topmost branches of 



the gum trees. 



i:- ■» •» 



The I^aughing Kingfisher {Dacelo giganted). 



Dr. Greene aptly describes this as short-legged, 

 big-billed, and thick set ; its plumage is grey, varied 

 on the wings with indications of buff and green on the 

 wings, and blue on the head ; it is thickly clad, and 

 the feathers of the head can be erected at will, forming 

 quite a respectable crest. As the difference in size 

 and form are clearly shown in our plate further refer- 

 ence to same would be superfluous. This species has 

 hatched out young on two occasions at the Zoo. 



Habitat : Queensland, New South Wales and South 



Australia generally. 



* * * 



The Buff Laughing Kingfisher {Dacclo cervhia). 



The specimen of this species which is on deposit 

 at the Zoo, is one of two, which were taken from the 

 nest by Messrs. Payne and Wallace ; they were hand- 

 reared and became so tame that they enjoyed freedom 

 at their Kangaroo Farm, Wild Dog Creek (N.W.A.) 

 Unfortunately one of them was trodden upon by a 

 Kangaroo and killed. 



This species only indulges in its merriment at 

 evening and early morning, while gigantea utters its 

 weird cachinnations at intervals during the whole of 

 the day. 



The plumage of this species is very brilliant, 

 being a warm buff", tinged greenish on wings, and 



