135 



No. 16. Dacelo leachii cervina (Fawn-breasted Kingfisher). 



Dncelo cervina, Gould, Bds. Austr., fol., vol. II., pi. 28 (1848); 

 Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., vol. I., Second Series, p. 1,086 

 (1886); North, op. cit, vol. IV., Second Series, p. 1,024 (1889). 



Dncelo cervina (subsp.), Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. 

 XVn., p. 207 (1892). 



Two adult females, one adult male, one young male. Camp 

 about five miles from the junction of the Fitzroy and Margaret 

 Rivers. The subspecific distinction accorded to the northern and 

 north-western race of D. leachii does not hold good in many 

 instances. I have specimens now before me from Derby, N.W. 

 Australia, that, except for their slightly-smaller size cannot be 

 distinguished from examples of D. leachii from Port Denisoti. 

 Specimens of D. leachii from Cairns, North-Eastern Queensland,. 

 have a slight fulvous wash on the under-surface, and are precisely 

 similar to birds obtained at Broome, North- West Australia. 

 Farther north they become smaller and darker. All the examples 

 from Port Essington in the Australian Museum are typical 

 D. cervina. They have tawny-bufF breasts, darker-blue quills 

 and tail, and smaller white tips to the tail-feathers. An adult 

 male and female from Roeburne, North- West Australia, are 

 slightly paler than the specimens from Port Essington, and are 

 furthermore distinguished by the very narrow brown streaks 

 down the centres of the feathers on the crov/n of the head. 

 Examples obtained intermediate between these two localities 

 vary considerably in the depth of the butf-coloring on the under- 

 parts. 



[These birds were heard and seen for the first time by our party 

 along the Fitzroy River, where they were numerous. Although 

 in flight and shape D. cervina so closely resembles D. gigas, its 

 note is totally different, and conveys an impression that its vocal 

 organs are out of gear, as it gives forth a succession of short 

 jerky sounds bearing no resemblance to the hearty laugh of 

 D. gigns. It has also a stronger bill, and is much more brilliant 

 in its markings on the wings. An adult female shot near 

 Jilgelly Creek had nearly the whole of its back a beautiful pale 

 metallic blue. 



No. 17. EuRYSTOMUS AUSTRALis (Australian Roller). 



Eurystomus australis, Swains., Anira. in Menag., p. 326 (1827); 

 Gould, Bds. Austr., fol., vol. II., pi. 17 (1848); Sharpe, Cat. 

 Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. XVIL, p. 36 (1892). 



Eurystomus pacijlcus, Ramsay, Proc, Linn. Soc, N.S.W., vol. 

 II., 2nd series, p. 166 (1887) ; North, Nests and Eggs Austr. 

 Bds., p. 35 (1889). 



One nearly adult female. Obtained in a tree near the Fitzroy 

 River, about five miles from the camp. 



