THE LAUGHING JACKASS. 329 



been known to exceed that measurement by four inches, so that the 

 entire length of the bird may be reckoned at four feet. The bill is 

 light yellow. 



As is often the case with birds, where the male is remarkable for the 

 beauty of his plumage, the female is altogethet- an ordinary and com- 

 paratively insignificant bird. 



KINGFISHEB^. 



The Kingfishers form a tolerably well-marked group of birds, all 

 of which are remarkable for their long bills and the comparative short- 

 ness of their bodies, which give them a peculiar bearing that is not to 

 be mistaken. 



The bills of these birds are all long and sharp, and in most cases are 

 straight. Their front toes are always joined together more or less, and 

 the number of the toes is very variable in form and arrangement, some 

 species possessing them in pairs, like those of the parrots, others hav- 

 ing them arranged three in front and one behind, as is usually the case 

 with birds, while a few species have only three toes altogether, two in 

 front and oile behind. The wings are rounded. As may be gathered 

 from their popular name, they feed mostly upon fish, which they cap- 

 ture by pouncing upon the finny prey. 



Our first example of the Kingfisher is the Laughing Jackass, or 

 Giant Kingfisher, its former title being derived from the strange 

 character of its cry. 



This bird is an inhabitant of Australia, being found chiefly in the 

 south-eastern district of that country and in New South Wales. In 

 Van Diemen's Land Mr. Gould believes that it does not exist. In no 

 place is it found in any great numbers ; for, although it is sufiiciently 

 common, it is but thinly dispersed over the country. It is a rather 

 large bird, being eighteen inches in total length, and is powerful in 

 proportion, being able to wage successful war against creatures of con- 

 siderable size. 



Although one of the true Kingfishers, it so far departs from the 

 habits of the family as to be comparatively careless about catching 

 fish, and often resides in the vast arid plains where it can find no streams 

 sufficiently large to harbor fish in their waters. Crabs of various kinds 

 are a favorite food with this bird, which also eats insects, small mam- 

 malia, and reptiles. Mr. Gould mentions an instance where he shot 

 one of these birds for the sake of possessing a rare and valuable spe- 

 cies of rat which it was carrying off* in its bill. It is also known to 

 eat snakes, catching them with great dexterity by the tail, and crush- 

 ing their heads with its powerful beak. Sometimes it is known to 

 pounce upon fish, but it usually adheres to the above-mentioned diet. 



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