HALCYON. 37 



" They breed during the months of September, October, and 

 November." {Ramsay, P.L.S., N.S. W., Vol. vii., p. 45.) 



Uah. Port Darwin and Port Essington, Gulf of Carpentaria, 

 Cape York, Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, 

 Dawson River, South Coast New Guinea. (Ramsay.) 



Genus HALCYON Swainson. 

 S, HALCYON SANCTUS, Vigors and HorsfieU, 



Sacred Kingfisher. 



Gould, Handhk. Bds. Aust., Yo\. i., sp. 63, p. 128. 



This bird is now known to be universally dispersed throughout 

 the continent of Australia, it having lately been received from 

 North-western Australia, in the collection formed by Mr. Cairn 

 in the vicinity of Derby last year (1886), being the only portion 

 of the continent from which specimens had not been previously 

 received. 



The Sacred Kingfisher deposits its eggs which are pearly-white 

 and usually five in number, on the decaying wood in a hollow 

 branch, or hole of a tree, usually a Eucalyptus. A set taken in 

 October 1870, measure as follows : — length (A) 1'03 x0"88 inch ; 

 (B) 1-03 X 0-89 inch; (C) 1-03 xO'87 inch; (D) 1-02 x 0-82 inch ; 

 .(E) 1-05 X 0-88 inch. 



The breeding season commences in September, and lasts the two 

 following months. 



Hab. Derby, N.W. Australia, Port Darwin and Port Essington, 

 Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York, Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, 

 Wide Bay District, Dawson River, Richmond and Clarence 

 Rivers Districts, New South Wales, Interior, Victoria and 

 South Australia, Tasmania, W. and S.W. Australia, South Coast 

 New Guinea. {Ramsay.) 



