BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 
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PLATE XXXI 
BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 
1. Little Kingfisher Alcyone pusilla Temminck 
Al' -cy-d-ne — a daughter of /Eolus, the wind god, who, when her husband 
Ceyx was drowned, threw herself into the sea and both were changed by 
the gods into kingfishers : pu-sil'-la — L., pusillus , very small. 
Distribution. — Northern Territory and northern Queensland; also 
occurs in the Molucca Islands, New Guinea, and Solomon Islands. 
Notes. — Usually singly or in pairs, frequenting streams in the densest 
parts of scrubs, but chiefly small creeks running through mangrove 
swamps. Its note is a shrill, piping cry, uttered mostly while on the wing. 
Food : small fishes. 
Nest. — In a hole in a bank of a creek; sometimes in an old stump. 
Eggs. — Usually five, white, rounded and glossy. Breeding-season: 
February (Cape York). 
2. Azure Kingfisher Alcyone azurea Latham 
az-ur-e-a — L., azureus, blue. 
Distribution. — Northern, eastern, and southern Australia, and Tas- 
mania; also occurs in the Molucca Islands and New Guinea. 
Notes. — Also called Blue Kingfisher, Water Kingfisher, and River 
Kingfisher. Usually singly or in pairs, frequenting fresh and salt-water 
streams. Its flight is swift and it generally keeps close to the surface of 
the water as it flies up or down a stream. While in flight it utters a shrill, 
piercing call-note. Food : small fishes, crustaceans, and insects. 
Nest. — In a hole in a bank of a stream. 
Eggs. — Five or six, white, rounded and glossy. Breeding-season: 
October to December. 
3. Spotted Crake Porzana fluminea Gould 
Por-za-na — N.L., porzana , crake: flUm-in-e-a — L., flumineus, belonging 
to rivers. 
Distribution. — Eastern, southern, and south-western Australia, and 
Tasmania. 
Notes. — Also called Water-crake. Usually singly or in pairs, fre- 
quenting marshy localities thickly overgrown with rank herbage or the 
reed-lined banks of swamps and streams. It is extremely shy and wary, 
keeping to the seclusion of the reeds and herbage. When startled, it 
disappears from sight with amazing quickness, and if driven from its 
retreat, takes to the water where it soon evades pursuit by swimming and 
diving. Food : aquatic insects and the green shoots of aquatic plants. 
