114 Mr. G. M. Mathews on the 



This Kingfisher was very common, and was usually found 

 in the forest, but was sometimes seen on the edge of the 

 mangroves. During October many birds were observed 

 making holes in termites' nests, in some cases 50 feet from the 

 ground. It was also common in the large belt of Pandanus 

 which fringes the outer edge of the great swamp. 



In this latter locality they live in part on fish, as a small 

 mullet about an inch and a half long was found in the 

 stomach of one individval, as well as bones and scales of 

 other fish and fragments of insects. 



This species does not fish like Alcyone, but flies down to 

 the surface of the water, in a slanting direction, and merely 

 seems to dip the beak and perhaps its head into the water; 

 the whole action resembles the catching of a small lizard or 

 other prey on land, where the bird often flies down, seizes 

 its prey, and returns to its perch, without alighting on the 

 ground. It is a resident. 



93. Sauropatis sancta ramsayi. Broad - bellied Sacred 

 Kingfisher. 



Halcyon sanctus ramsayi Mathews, Nov. Zool. vol. xviii. 

 1912, p. 289: Parry's Creek, Northern Territory. 



This Kingfisher is common, and frequents mangrove- 

 swamps ; it is rarely seen in the forest, and its food consists 

 of small crabs. It is a migrant. 



. 94. Sauropatis sordida melvillensis. Melville - Island 

 Mangrove-Kingfisher. 



Halcyon sordidus melvillensis Mathews, Austral A v. Rcc. 

 vol. i. 1912, p. 38 : Melville Island. 



This bird is fairly numerous, and is found in scattered 

 mangroves growing along the foreshore of the tidal creeks. 

 It is rather noisy, and can be heard for a considerable 

 distance. It lives in small scattered parties of five or six, 

 but may be seen singly. 



Nest. In a hollow limb of a large Eucalyptus about 60 

 feet from the ground. 



