204 Mr. ViGOKs's and Dr. Hors fi eld's Description of the 



and in consonance merely with what appeared to him to be their 

 natural aflinities, of which he formed his judgement by actual 

 observation of their manners, has grouped these birds in the same 

 case with the Caprimulgi, Podargi, Hirundines, and Artami, in 

 which situation they may still be seen. 



Fam. H a l c y o n i d .'e . 



Genus. Dacelo. Leach. 



1. GiGANTEA. D. albida, capitis suhcristati vertice macuhl post- 



ocnlari 7iuchaUque dorso anteriori alisque fitsco-brunneis, his 



cœruleo-variegatis ; caudâ ferrugineâ fusco-brunnco-fasciatù, 



apice albo. 

 Dacelo gigantea. Leach, Zool. Mise. ii. p. 126. pL cvi. 

 Alcedo gigantea. Lath. Lid. Orn. p. '245. no. 1. 

 Great Brown Kingsfisher. JVhitc's Joiirn. pi. in p. 137. PhiU. 



Bot. Bat/, pi. in p. 287. 

 This species is thus referred to in Mr. Caley's notes. " The 

 settlers call this bird the Laughing Jackass, and the natives, as I 

 think, Cnck'unda. It is common throughout the colony, at least 

 in all the forest-land of the interior parts. It makes a loud noise, 

 somewhat like laughing, which may be heard at a considerable 

 distance ; from which circumstance, and its uncouth appear- 

 ance, it probably received the above extraordinary appellation 

 from the settlers on their first arrival in the country. I have 

 also heard it called the Hawkesbury Clock (clocks being at the 

 period of my residence scarce articles in the colony, there not 

 being one, perhaps, in the whole Hawkesbury settlement), for it 

 is amono- the first of the feathered tribes which announce the 

 approach of day. AVhen sleeping in the woods, I have often 

 found its singular noise most welcome in the mornino;. — Its 

 habits were very different from those of the Three-toed Kings- 

 fisher ." {Ceyx azurea, Lacep.) 



2. Leachii. 



