PASSERES. 
Tribe II. Fissirostres Diurm;. 
Family V. Alcedinim;. 
Order I[. 
e second Subfamily, 
HALCYONINiE, or Crab-hunters, 
, 6 broad at the base, and gradually compressed towards the tip ; 
le upwards towards the end of the upper mandible ; the gonys 
ascend 
n b> or curved upwards to the tip of the lower mandible. 
the lateral margins straight, 
lengthened, and gradually 
Dacelo Leach.* 
t 0w V(ir y broad, and elevated at the base, with the sides compressed, and the culmen straight 
^ ^ ie Op, which is much compressed and slightly hooked ; the lateral margins curved up and 
lateral ntar en d; the gonys curved upwards to the tip of the lower mandible; the nostiils basal, 
Ibe fly 0 l )en big small, longitudinal, and exposed. Wings moderate, with the first quill long, and 
hu 'd, fourth, 
r °bus 
»man, iongiruumai, ana exposeu. vv uty* iuwcu.tv, a 
r °bu & ud fifth nearly equal and longest. Tail moderate and rounded. Tarsi very short, 
rra ( p|i ’ an ^ c °Vered with small scales. Toes long and unequal ; the inner toe short, and united to the 
a ri( | ^ S Pai as the first joint; the outer long, and united to near the third joint ; the hind toe moderate ; 
r °adly padded beneath : the claws long, compressed, and curved. 
iYlOSt of E 
^hey are ^ e birds that compose this genus are found in Australia, but others have been discovered in New Guinea. 
' v °°ded f or ^ 110 means shy birds, and are usually seen perched on the dead branches of trees, whether in the thinly 
6tll; ill qua(lr 0r on those that are scattered on the arid plains. Their flight is noiseless and quick. They feed on 
b'ese bir(j s peels, reptiles, insects, and crabs, and even chickens do not escape them ; and “ it is not uncommon to see 
b^d ; ^ y U P with a long snake pending from their beak, the bird holding the reptile by the neck, just behind the 
^ans of q ' J. hc sna be hangs down without motion, and appears dead, it is probable that the bird destroys them by 
poR Ses *J u pon the ground, before it conveys them into the tree.” Mr. G. Bennett also informs us that these 
^ ear d hy q. a P ecu liar gurgling laugh, commencing in a low and gradually rising to a high and loud tone, and are often 
'°% branch t J ave ^ er J i n all parts of the colony, sending forth their deafening noises whilst remaining peiched upon the 
Mth bs rn, v a tree watchin S For prey : ” and he further remarks that “ it rises with the dawn, when the woods reecho 
f iv en i/j 8 lau gh ; at sunset it is again heard ; and as that glorious orb sinks in the west, a last ‘ good night ’ is 
ayin g th ein Q PeCUliar tones to a U within hearing.” It is in holes of trees that the females deposit their eggs, simply 
11 ^ l0 bare wood at the bottom of the cavity. 
* 
yJHovi Si j t ^ ^each hi 1815 ( Zoological Miscellany). 
^braces Melidora of M. Lesson (1831). 
Paralcyon (1827) of M. Gloger and Choncalcyon (1831) of M. Lesson are 
