A T esting of the Laughing Kingfisher. 89


NESTING OF THE LAUGHING KINGFISHER.


Dacelo gigantea.


By R. Cosgrave.


I feel sure that the readers of the Avicultural Magazine

will be interested to hear of the successful breeding of the above

species. I believe it to be the first occasion that these birds have

reared young in this country.


About the 20th of last April the pair showed unmistakable

signs of nesting, taking possession of a box. which had been

put for some Alpine Choughs. They removed all the nesting

material that it contained ; when I gave more of different kinds

it was at once removed, still tliey did not place anything in the

box of their own choice or settle to nest in earnest. It occurred

to me that the box was not large enough and that I was not

giving proper nesting material, so I procured another box, i8in.

by I2in., with a large hole in front to allow the bird to go in and

out with ease. For nesting material I got some decomposed wood

and broke it up fine, and this was placed in the box to a depth of

about three inches. The box I next nailed securely against

the wall of their indoor compartment, about nine feet from the

ground. They at once took to this, and on May 10th, one pearly

white egg, about the size of a Bantam’s, was laid, two more were

added on alternate days, and the birds commenced to sit at once.

Incubation lasted twenty-one days, both birds taking equal share

of the work. On the 19th day, finding both the birds off the

nest longer than usual at feeding time, I determined to look and

see if all was going well, but met with disappointment, two of

the eggs had vanished, not the slightest trace of them could I

find. My hopes were destroyed for the time being, for I felt sure

that the remaining egg would share the same fate. However, it

was not so, the birds went on sitting, and on the erst day we

could hear the young calling in the nest. When the birds were

off to feed I took a very hurried glance, but enough to see that

the young was perfectly naked. After ten days I had another

look and found that it had grown well, it was standing or sitting

upright and looked like a young Owl or a ball of white wool. <

In case of doing harm I did not look at it again until it was three



