232 PECULIAR VOCAL PERFORMANCES. 



The Laughing Jackass is a true Kingfisher, although oddly 

 enough it seldom or never goes near the water. It inhabits the 

 dry scrub, feeding like a bird of prey on insects, reptiles, and 

 small mammalia, and differs essentially, therefore, in its habits 

 from the lovely bird which flashes like a jewel along the brooks 

 and rivulets of Europe. At one time it was much persecuted by 

 the settlers, from the idea that it had too great a liking for young 

 poultry ; but the rapid increase of reptiles and vermin of all kinds 

 in the districts where the bird had been destroyed, soon led to a 

 proper estimate of its value ; and it is now a privileged inmate 

 of every farmyard in the Australian colonies. It is a constant 

 attendant about the bush tent, and being of a very companion- 

 able nature, and useful withal, it is regarded with a great deal of 

 favour. 



Dr. Bennett, in his recent " Gatherings of a Naturalist in 

 Australia," says it is no uncommon thing to see ten or a dozen 

 of them perched on the branches of a large gum-tree, and on the 

 traveller exciting them by trying to imitate their peculiar note, 

 instead of flying away, one will immediately commence a gurgling 

 laugh, then another will set up a scream, a third will follow with 

 a loud bark, then they will all chime in with such an extra- 

 ordinary compound of noises as baffles all description. There 

 are three fine specimens of these singular birds in the New Aviary, 

 and every morning they make the place ring again with their 

 boisterous laughter, beginning with a low and gradually rising 

 to a high and loud tone, as though they were highly amused 

 at their own performances. 



The Australian bush has three or four other birds almost 

 equally famous with the Laughing Jackass for the singularity of 

 their notes ; and we may hope that one day they will all be 

 assembled here in the Gardens together. There is first the little 

 Bell Bird, whose tinkling note is a pleasant sound to the thirsty 

 wanderer, always indicating the nearness of water ; then there is 

 the Razor Grinder, which perches on some lofty tree and sends 

 out its rapid scizaring, grinding notes, as though it was driving 

 an excellent business in sharpening up old cutlery ; and lastly, 

 there is the Coach-Whip Bird, which first of all startles the tra- 

 veller with his loud whistle, and then finishes up with a sharp 

 smack like the crack of a coach-whip. Mr. Sclatcr can surely 

 contrive to engage the services of a few of these very original 



