﻿because, in nests placed on the banks of creeks, in which no fish are found, the dibru 

 consists of wings and legs of coleopterous insects, chiefly Anophegnathidce and Buprestidce, 

 which on account of their horney elytra and covering are by no means suitable for food, 

 and are therefore, I consider, brought in for no other purpose than to keep the eggs off the 

 damp mud in which the birds frequently tunnel." 



" This fact was first brought under my notice by my old school-fellow and much 

 lamented friend, the late Mr. F. Mate, perhaps the most talented scholar that ever won 

 honours at Sydney University, but many times since we have found the debris of various 

 kinds of insects brought in for a flooring." 



The following extract is from the " Bush Wanderings of a Naturalist," bv the late 

 Mr. H. Wheelwright : — 



" The real Australian Kingfisher is smaller than its European namesake, which it 

 resembles much in habits and appearance ; it is, however, of a uniform purple-blue colour, 

 and the breast is deep orange. It was a summer migrant to us, and a pair or two might 

 be there seen on every creek : they breed in the hole of a bank, and the eggs exactly 

 resembled those of the British bird." 



The description as well as the plate are taken from a Queensland specimen in my 

 collection. 



