THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Vigors and Horsfield gave Caley^s notes as follows : “ The settlers call 
this bird the Laughing Jackass^ and the natives, as I think, CucFunda. It 
is common throughout the colony, at least in all the forest-land of the interior 
parts. It makes a loud noise, somewhat like laughing, which may be heard 
at a considerable distance ; from which circumstance, and its uncouth 
appearance, it probably received the above extraordinary appellation from the 
settlers on their first arrival in the country. I have also heard it called the 
Hawkesbury Clock (clocks being at the period of my residence scarce articles 
in the colony, there not being one, perhaps, in the whole Hawkesbury 
settlement), for it is among the first of the feathered tribes which announce 
the approach of day. When sleeping in the woods I have often found its 
singular noise most welcome in the morning. Its habits were very different 
from those of the Three-toed Kingfisher {Geyx azurea)^ 
Gould’s notes read : “ The Dacelo gigas is a bird with which every resident 
and traveller in New South Wales is more or less familiar, for, independently 
of its large size, its voice is so extraordinary as to be unlike that of any other 
bird. In its disposition it is by no means shy, and when any new objects 
are presented to its notice, such as a party traversing the bush or pitching 
their tent in the vicinity of its retreat, it becomes very prying and inquisitive, 
often perching on the dead branch of some neighbouring tree, and watching 
with curiosity the kindling of the fire and the preparation of the meal ; its 
j)resence, however, is seldom detected until it emits its extraordinary gurgling, 
laughing note, which generally calls forth some exclamation according with 
the temper of the hearer, such as ‘ There is our old friend the Laughmg 
Jackass,’ or an epithet of a less friendly character. . . Captain Sturt says : 
‘ Its cry, which resembles a chorus of wild spirits, is apt to startle the traveller 
who may be in jeopardy, as if laughmg and mocking at his misfortunes ’ ; 
and Mr. Bennett, in his ‘ Wanderings,’ says, ‘ Its peculiar gurgling laugh, 
commencing in a low, and gradually rising to a high and loud tone, is often 
heard in all parts of the colony, the deafening noise being poured forth while 
the bird remains perched upon a neighbouring tree; it rises with the dawn, 
when the woods re-echo with its gurgling laugh ; at sunset it is again heard ; 
and as that glorious orb sinks in the west a last “ good night ” is given in 
its peculiar tones to all within hearing.’ It frequents every variety of 
situation ... its food, which is of a mixed character, consists exclusively 
of animal substances; reptiles, insects, and crabs, however, appear to be its 
favourite diet ; it devours lizards with avidity, and it is not an infrequent 
sight to see it bearing off a snake in its bill ... it also preys on small 
mammalia.” 
Mr. Thos. P. Austin has sent me the following : “ The Brown Kingfisher 
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