HALCYON SANCTUS. 



(Sacred Halcyon.) 



— -♦■ 



Crown, back, wings, and tail, blueish green ; a line of buff from the base of the bill to a little behind the eye ; lores and ear coverts, black ; 

 throat, white ; collar round the neck and all the under surface, buff, blending into white towards the throat ; bill, black, except the base of 

 the under mandible, which is flesh color ; feet, dark flesh color ; irides, dark brown. 



Length, 8i inches ; wing, 3|- ; tail, 2| ; bill. If ; tarsus, -f . 



This species has an extensive range, being found in all the known parts of Australia, but not in Tasmania. In the south it is 

 only to be seen in the spring and summer seasons, migrating to the north for the autumn and winter. Its general resort is fresh water 

 streams, but it may sometimes be observed in thick brushes and scrubs, and — what in a bird of its habits might be thought curious — 

 even at considerable distance from water. It preys upon insects of all kinds ; also on lizards and very small snakes. In saline marshes it 

 feeds largely upon small crabs and other Crustacea. It often sits for hours upon a naked branch, until a favorable opportunity occurs for 

 darting upon its prey. It makes no nest, but merely deposits its eggs on the soil in the hole of a tree, or in the deserted nests of the white 

 •ant ; they are in number four or five, white, 1 inch 1 line long, by 10 lines broad. The plumage of both sexes is alike. The young bird has 

 the breast marked with brown bands. 



HALCYON MCLEAYII. 



(McLeay's Halcyon.) ^ 



^— 



Line under the eye and ear coverts, glossy black ; head, occiput, wings, and tail, deep blue ; primaries and secondaries, white at the base, 

 showing like a white spot when the wings are open ; the remaining portion of the primaries, black, margined externally with blue ; a spot of 

 white in front of the eye ; collar round the neck and all the under surface, white ; back and upper tail coverts, light blue. The female is 

 destitute of the white collar round the neck Bill, black ; the basal portion of the under mandible, fleshy white ; legs and feet, greenish grey. 

 Length, 8 inches ; wing, 3i ; tail, 2^ ; bill, 1|- ; tarsus, f. 



This handsome species is found in Queensland and the northern portions of Australia. It is known as the " brush kingfisher," 

 from its being frequently seen in thickly-wooded country. The food consists of insects, generally, but more especially beetles. It difi'ers 

 from the H. Sanctus in being confined to the coast, and it is seldom found inland at a greater distance than 30 miles. It may often be seen 

 in gardens in the neighborhood of Brisbane, and when undisturbed becomes very familiar. Its nest is usually to be found in the tea-tree 

 swamps, or on the banks of creeks ; the deserted nest of the white ant is hollowed out for the purposes of incubation, which takes place 

 during the month of November, the eggs being merely deposited on the bare earth or material present. Nests may be often seen bulging 

 out from the sides of ironbark, swamp-oak, and other trees. McLeay's Halcyon is plentiful at Cape York in the winter and spring, but 

 migrates to the southward during the hotter months of the year. The eggs, four or five in number, are much rounded in form, and pearly 

 white — 11x10 lines. 



The note of this species is shrill, and resembles the words " pee pee." ' 



