The Buff Laughi?ig Kingfisher. 173


reared from the nest and brought to this country by the enter-

prising firm of importers of Australian animals, Messrs. Payne

and Wallace, of the Little Zoo., Bath, and they have very kindly

supplied the following notes on the bird and the block from

which the illustration is printed :


" The example of Dacelo cervina, which has recently been

placed in the Zoo, was taken from its lofty nest by one of our

natives. It was taken from a tree on the banks of the Ord

river which separates North- West Australia from the Northern

territory of South Australia. There were two taken from the

nest, but unfortunately one of them got killed on our Kangaroo

Farm at Wild Dog Creek (N.W.A.) where they used to run about

in the Paddock where the kangaroos are kept. They were so

tame that they did not attempt to fly away. The one that was

killed met its end by being trodden upon by a kangaroo.


"Their nesting place is generally in a hollow limb of the

gum tree and as high as they can possibly get. We always

found them useful as time-pieces, if there were any in the

district, for just before dawn and again at sunset they would

seem to put their whole energy into their thrilling call, which

can be heard for miles in the silent bush.


" It is rather curious that these Kingfishers should spend

the greater part of their time in the dry forest country. During

the wet season, which lasts practically from January to March,

they inhabit the swampy country where they get their food

supply in the way of frogs, newts, &c, but strange to say we

very seldom saw them 'skimming the water.' The other nine

months of the year is, as we said before, spent in the dry

country where they live on small lizards and snakes. In fact any

living thing which is small enough will be swallowed. When

catching lizards and the like, they make good use of their bills.

They wait on the branch of a tree, keeping an eye open for any

thing in the vermin or reptile line that can be eaten. If a lizard

makes its appearance down swoops the Kingfisher, with closed

wings, like a stone, and spears the lizard with its pointed bilk

Back he goes to the trees and starts banging the lizard on the

branch, until the life is knocked out of it, and then it goes down

the 'cavity' whole. They are very fond of mice and the ene_—



