AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 
105 
F. 81. CORACIIDAE (1), ROLLERS, 32 sp.— 5(5)A., 6(3)0., 
3(0)P., 22(21)E. 
I 219* Australian Roller, Dollar (Star) Bird, Eurystomus 
II pacificus, Cel., Mol., A. exc. S.A., W.A., Lord Howe 
Is., N.Z. Mig. r. timber 12 
Head, upper dark-brown; inner-wing bluish, outer-wing 
dark-blue with a silvery-blue patch (dollar) ; throat 
dark-blue; eyelash, wide curved bill, feet red; many 
shades of blue and green; abdomen light-green; f., sim. 
Insects. 
F. 82. ALCEDINIDAE (14), KINGFISHERS, 200 sp — 
112(105)A., 52(44)0., 5(0)P., 31(30)E., 3(0)Nc., 
11(8)N1. 
3 220*Blue lUngfisher (Azure, Water, River), Alcyone 
7 azurea, E.A., S.A., T. Mig. r. water 8 
Upper ultramarine-blue; behind ear yellowish-white patch; 
wings black; throat whitish; under rusty-orange; bill 
black; f., sim. Fish, insects. 
3 221*LaughiDg Kingfisher (Great Brown, Giant), Laugh- 
4 ing Jackass, Bushman's (Settler's) Clock, Kooka- 
burra, Dacelo gigas, E.A., S.A. Stat. v.c. timber 17.5 
Upper, line from bill past eye brown; side-head, under 
^ whitish; blue, white spots on wing; tail barred brown, 
black, tipped white; f., sim. Lizards, insects, snakes. 
6 222 Red-backed Kingfisher (Golden), Halcyon pyrr- 
71 hopygius, A. (interior). r, open country 8 
Back, rump reddish-brown; collar, under white; crown 
dull-green streaked white; dark band from bill through 
eye round back of head; wings, tail bluish; f., sim. 
Fish, insects. 
in general, and the Podargus in particular, when he says: "In 
no other country is there a greater proportion of insectivorous 
birds, and certainly none in which nocturnal species such as the 
Podargi are more numerous." 
The Australian Roller (Dollar-Bird) has the family beauty, and 
has a white circular patch on each wing, which shows clearly 
when the wing is expanded during flight. At the Tallangatta 
excursion a pair was working even after dusk near the school- 
ground. Flying from the topmost dead branch, one bird sud- 
denly closed its wings, and cut queer antics in the air. After 
flying a considerable distance, it returned to its former perch, and 
the mate set off. On the return of the mate the first set off 
again, and so on. With their disagreeable, rough **treek treek," 
and peculiar antics, they are conspicuous birds. It is our one 
representative of a family most strongly developed in Africa. 
While Kingfishers are cosmopolitan (world-wide in distribu- 
tion), yet the Australian region contains far more of these beau- 
tiful birds than any other region. They are famous in legend 
and story, and we owe to them the expression, "halcyon days" (Gr. 
alkuon^ a Kingfisher). 
