74 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



in the Australian " Laughing Jackass " {Dacelo 

 gigas) very hke a coarse laugh. 



Economic Qualities. — The land- feeding species are 

 useful vermin-destroyers ; the fish -eaters are in- 

 jurious in fish-rearing establishments, but not 

 elsewhere, and they are always appreciated as 

 ornaments to scenery. 



Captivity. — They are easy to rear on fish and meat, 

 but unless in a large aviary do not usually do well 

 when fledged, knocking themselves about. The 

 " Laughing Jackass " is the only species commonly 

 kept, and lives well. It has hatched young three 

 times in the London Zoological Gardens. 



Distribution and Important Species. — Kingfishers, 

 of which there are about a hundred and fifty 

 species, are found all over the world, but the land- 

 feeding species are confined to the warmer parts of 

 the Old World ; few species of any kind inhabit 

 temperate climates. The only one common in 

 Europe generally is our well-known Alcedo ispida, 

 which extends all across Asia, being common in 

 India, and in North America the grey-and-white 

 Ceryle alcyon ; while the " Laughing Jackass " is 

 familiar in zoological gardens ; in colour it is chiefly 

 brown and dull white. The black-and-white 

 Ceryle rudis is a common bird in India and Africa, 

 as is the blue-and-buff Halcyon vagans in New 

 Zealand. 



Kiwis (Apterygidce), 



Diagnosis. — Flightless birds of moderate size, with 



very long bills and very small wings. 

 Size. — About that of a fowl; females larger than 



males. 

 Form. — Bill long, straight, slender, with nostrils at 



the tip, and corner of mouth below eye, whiskered 



