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sumably learned from experience that taking headers into a

shallow dish (I have literally trembled with concern at the sight

of a Laughing Jackass taking his dip) is not unattended with

disadvantages, they now acted quite differently ; and instead of

plunging into the water they hovered over it like Gulls and

gently dropped into it. Probably they did not take more than

four baths during the whole summer: I can speak only for three,

but perhaps my aviary is cold for them. It would seem, then,

that both the Roller and the Laughing Kingfisher, the great

land Kingfisher of Australia, take their baths naturally with a

true Kingfisher plunge, which is all the more remarkable as

neither species seeks its prey in the water in the wild state.

They both will feed upon lizards, occasional^ bang their victims

against a bough with great violence, and gulp their prey down

whole like the Kingfisher. They both nest in holes, holes of

trees from preference, and they lay white eggs.


During the summer I.noticed from the marks in the sand

in two of the houses in the bird-room that some large bird was

frequently taking sand-baths ; and on August ist I found that it

was the female Roller. I cannot say whether the male likewise

indulged in this pastime.


I have more than once referred to the “Jackass” laugh

of my female Roller. By this expression I do not mean any of

the common notes of the species, but a laugh remarkably like

that of the Laughing Jackass—as the Laughing Kingfisher is

familiarly called—only shorter. When my female first arrived she

laughed frequently, being immensely astonished and delighted

with her new home—and small wonder, when one thinks of the

tiny all-wire cage from which I rescued her, which she shared

with a couple of Scops Owls f Scops giu ). Since those early days

her laugh has been very rare, for it seems to be uttered only

when something intensely comical or startling excites her risible

faculties. I cannot say that I have ever heard the male laugh in

the same way. There are very expressive substitutes for a

laugh, though, from both male and female when they notice that

the other birds are being served with breakfast or supper. And

directly I appear with their saucers and call their names, the

female flies to meet me, settles on the edge of her saucer, and,

throwing her head upwards and backwards and bowing it up and

down, utters a shout of triumph, or let us say of thanks, and

falls- to, never pausing for a moment while I walk across the

room and place the saucer, with its double burden of food and

feeder, in its accustomed place. The male usually precedes us,



