38- ALCBUINIDJI. 



i' HALCYON PYRRHOPYGIUS, Gould. 



Red-backed Kingfisher. 



Gould, Handhk. Bds. AusL, Vol. i., sp. 64, p. 130. 



This species breeds in the Bourke and Cob9.r districts during 

 October and November, it nests in hollow boughs of trees, but on 

 one occasion Mr. James Ramsay took five eggs from the end of a 

 tunnel in the bank of a recently made dam or tank ; these 

 specimens, accompanied by a skin of the parent bird, were sent to 

 me, and measure as follows :— (A) 1-02 x 0-88 ; (B) 1-02 x 0-88 ; 

 (C) 1-02 X 0-88 ; (D) 1-02 x 0-78 ; (E) 1-04 x 0-87 inch ; they are 

 a pure glossy white colour. (Dobr. Mus. P.L.S., N.S. W., Vol. 

 vii., p. 45, Ramsay.) 



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

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

 Wide Bay District, Dawson River, New South Wales, "Interior, 

 Victoria and South Australia. {Bamsay.) 



■5" HALCYON MACLEAYI, Jardine and Selhy. 



Macleay's Kingfisher. 

 Gould, Handb. Bds. ^Ims*., Vol. i., sp. 66, p. 133. 



This beautiful Kingfisher has an extensive range of habitat, 

 being found in the northern provinces of New South Wales, and 

 the whole of Queensland, and has lately been received from North 

 Western Australia, in the collection formed by the late Mr. T. H. 

 Boyer-Bower. It often deposits its eggs in the hollow branch of 

 a tree, at other times, digging a tunnel in the nest of the White 

 Ants, it lays them in a rounded chamber at the extremity. 

 During Dr. Ramsay's visit to Queensland in 1874 a nest was 



