THE - 



South Australian Ornithologist. 



Vol. I.J APRIL, 1914. [Part 2. 



Order Picariae, Sul>order Halcyones, Family 

 Alcedinidae, Genus Dacelo, Species Dacelo gigas. 



THE LAUGHING JACKASS. 



Upper Surface. 



Forehead. — Light brown, each feather barred with dark 

 brown. 



Crown. — Dark brown, barred and tipped with black in the 

 centre, dull white at the sides, feathers elongated to form an 

 erectile crest. 



Occiput. — Dull white, stippled with black. 



Hind Neck.— A line of dull white feathers, largely tipped 

 with dull black. 



Lores.— Dull white, line of feathers under the eye and over 

 its upper two-thirds dull black. 



Ear Coverts. — Dull black. 



Lower Neck and Upper Back. — Dull white, forming a broad 

 collar. 



Back. — Between the shoulders dull black; lower back 

 greyish white, finely barred with black. 



Upper Tail Coverts. — Bright brown barred with black, with 

 a faint wash of metallic blue in old birds. 



Under Surface. 

 Chin and Neck. — White. 



Breast and Abdomen. — White, faintly barred with black. 

 Flanks. — White, finely barred with black. 

 Under Tail Coverts. — White, the bases faintly barred with 

 black. , 



