AN AUSTRALIAN BIRt) ROOK. 105 



P. 81. CORACIIDAE (1), ROLLERS, 32 sp — 5 (5) A., 6(3)0., 

 3(0)P., 22(21)E. 



I 2 19* Australian Roller, Dollar (Star) Bird, Eurystomus 



II pacificus, Cel., Mol., A. exc. S.A., W.A., Lord Howe 

 Is., N.Z. Mig. r. timber 12 



Head, upper dark-brown; inner-wing bluish, outer- wing 

 dark-blue with a silvery-blue patch (dollar) ; throat 

 dark-blue; eyelash, wide curved bill, feet red; many 

 shades of blue and green; abdomen light-green; f., sim. 

 Insects. 

 F. 82. ALCEDIN1DAE (14), KINGFISHERS, 200 sp — 

 112(105)A., 52(44)0., 5(0)P., 31(30)E., 3(0)Nc, 

 11(8)N1. 

 3 220*Blue Kingfisher (Azure, Water, River), Alcyone 

 7 azurea, E.A., S.A., T. Mig. r. water 8 



Upper ultramarine-blue; behind ear yellowish-white patch; 

 wings black; throat whitish; under rusty-orange; bill 

 black; f., sim. Fish, insects. 



3 221*Laughing Kingfisher (Great Brown, Giant), Laugh- 



4 ing Jackass, Bushman's (Settler's) Clock, Kooka- 

 burra, Dacelo gigas, E.A., S.A. Stat. v.c. timber 17.5 



Upper, line from bill past eye brown; side-head, under 



whitish; blue, white spots on wing; tail barred brown, 



black, tipped white; f., sim. Lizards, insects, snakes. 



6 222 Red-backed Kingfisher (Golden), Halcyon pyrr- 



71 hopygius, A. (interior). r. open country 8 



Back, rump reddish-brown; collar, under white; crown 



dull-green streaked white; dark band from bill through 



eye round back of head; wings, tail bluish; f., sim. 



Fish, insects. 



in general, and the Poclargus in particular, when he says: "In 

 no other country is there a greater proportion of insectivorous 

 birds, and certainly none in which nocturnal species such as the 

 Podargi are more numerous." 



The Australian Roller (Dollar-Bird) has the family beauty, and 

 has a white circular patch on each wing, which shows clearly 

 when the wing is expanded during flight. At the Tallangatta 

 excursion a pair was working even after dusk near the school- 

 ground. Flying from the topmost dead branch, one bird sud- 

 denly closed its wings, and cut queer antics in the air. After 

 flying a considerable distance, it returned to its former perch, and 

 the mate set off. On the return of the mate the first set off 

 again, and so on. With their disagreeable, rough "treek treek," 

 and peculiar antics, they are conspicuous birds. It is our one 

 representative of a family most strongly developed in Africa. 



While Kingfishers are cosmopolitan (world-wide in distribu- 

 tion), yet the Australian region contains far more of these beau- 

 tiful birds than any other region. They are famous in legend 

 and story, and we owe to them the expression, "halcyon days" (Gr. 

 alkuon, a Kingfisher). 



