122 Zoology. 



Latham's description and figure are both taken from 

 Watling's drawings, but his plate represents the bird as of a deeper 

 red colour underneath than in Watling's picture, which may have 

 faded a little ; the latter writer says that the figure was of the 

 " natural size." It is the type of the species. 



No. 76. Glossy Cuckow, Lath., Gen. Syn., Suppl. ii., p. 138. 

 Cuculus plagosus, Lath., Ind. Orn., Suppl., p. xxxi. 

 Chalcococcyx plagosus, Shelley, Cat. B., xix., p. 297. 

 This is the type of Chalcococcyx plagosus of Latham, who says 

 that he is indebted to Mr. Lambert for some of the birds 

 described by him ; so that it may be that Latham, when he had 

 these drawings before him, had received them from Mr. Lambert. 

 It is curious that Watling's name is not mentioned, as many of 

 the drawings bear his signature; nor is that of his employer, 

 Mr. James Lee. 



Watling's note: "The natural size. The yellow does not 

 appear so bright as in the bird, and what is very singular in this 

 bird it has two claws, before and behind the feet." 



No. 77. Great Brown Kingfisher, Lath., Gen. Syn., ii., p. 609. 

 Alcedo gigantea, Lath., Ind. Orn, i., p. 245. 

 Dacelo gigas (Bodd.), Sharpe, Cat. B., xvii., p. 204. 

 Watling's note is : " Two thirds the natural size. Native 

 name Goo-ge-na-ganP 



No. 78. Great Brown Kingfisher, Lath., Gen. Syn., ii., p. 609. 

 Another figure of Dacelo gigas, but with a more rufous tail 

 (i.e. female bird) and darker under-surface, the blue on the 

 wings indicated more plainly. 



Watling's note is i " This bird lives on insects, worms, etc., 

 principally ; though sometimes seeds are found in its crop. It is 

 by no means numerous and very solitary ; still from its note, 

 which is that of a human loud and continued laugh, it might be 

 considered a cheerful bird. The natives call it Googanegang, 

 but with us it has the appellation of the Laughing Bird. None 

 of them have ever been observed pairing, nor has any of their 

 nests been found. The largest I have ever seen was the one from 

 which this drawing was taken — from the bill end to the tip of 

 the tail it measured 16 J inches, and from tip to tip of the wings 

 18 inches. It is a bird of slow and short flight, and seems when 

 on the wings to have some difficulty to support its fore-part, 

 which regularly from the head and bill (which is large and 

 strong) to the tail decreases in size. The feet are of a lead 

 colour with black claws, and small in proportion to the size of the 



