﻿Australia" states that "the habits, actions, food, and indeed the whole of the economy of 

 the Dacelo Leachii, are so like those of the D. gigas, that a separate description of them is 

 unnecessary." 



The measurements given by me represents the average dimensions of the bird. They 

 differ considerably from those given by Mr. Diggles, who I suspect, has either committed 

 an error with regard to those he has furnished, or recorded the size of an unusually large 

 specimen. 



In Mr. Diggles's notes on the bird, which I here transcribe, he says: — 

 "This large and powerful species of Kingfisher, is as plentiful at Kockhampton as D. 

 gigantea is in the South. It occurs, though by no means abundantly, in the neighbourhood 

 of Brisbane and Ipswich, and in its habits is similar to the common species. It feeds on 

 reptiles, centipeds and insects, and dives under the water for fish, which are carried to the 

 nearest log, beaten to death, and devoured entire. It is sometimes destructive among 

 voung chickens, watching its opportunity and quietly dropping on its prey, carrying it oft* 

 without the noise and disturbance caused by the swoops of a hawk, and consequently escap- 

 ing without detection or suspicion. From its great size and strength, this Dacelo is able to 

 encounter snakes of considerable size ; and the indiscriminate slaughter of so useful a bird 

 ought on every occasion to be strongly condemned. Its note differs from that of D. gigas 

 in being more harsh and not lengthened into the peculiar laugh of that bird. It builds its 

 nest in the hollow branch of a tree, the same being formed of strips of dry bark and similar 

 materials. Eggs — two, white, and nearly round." 



The description, measurements, and figures are from a fine pair in my collection from 

 Queensland. 



