THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
them in the high, rough mountain country, where they were nesting in the 
large hollows of the forest and scrub trees. I did not see it in Tasmania, 
although I travelled a lot in the extreme south and also in the north. At 
the Reedbeds, South Australia, none of these birds were to be seen some years 
ago, until we introduced several pairs and put up large hollow logs for them 
to breed in, and by protecting them they have taken to these nesting places 
and brought out broods, until now there are quite a number about, and their 
hearty laugh is pleasing to hear in the early morning, for they are amongst 
the earliest risers we have, and also the laughing notes are often heard towards 
evening, as they select some roosting place, and wish to give vent to their entire 
satisfaction of the locality. Their note is almost too well known to describe : 
the bird starts slowly with Ooh ooh-ooh-aah-aah-aah-aah ! Ooh-ooh-ooh- 
aah-aah-aah ! ! ! repeating it several times and increasing in volume, tone, 
and quickness each time, until one would think that the bird would fairly 
burst with excitement, and ends up with several ooh-ooh-ooohhs ! ! ! that 
seem to come from the very bottom of its stomach, and are so drawn out 
and full of expression and low that one would think that it was the very last 
bit of breath that the bird had in its body, and was just dying with a laughing 
fit, but he soon recovers, and may again burst out, and have it over again, 
and when several of these birds are performing a trio or quartette in a tree, 
the concert is simply ludicrous : while giving out this outburst the bills are 
thrown up and kept partly open, while the tail is also cocked up until at times 
it a most touches the head, and the bird’s throat and underpart of the body 
simply heave and vibrate beyond description. They are very fond of snakes, 
and will vigorously attack them on the ground, flying past at a great speed 
and digging their large, powerful and sharp bills into the reptile’s skin, 
and then picking it up and letting it fall off and on. I have seen them 
attacking a monster iguana lizard as it was clambering up a tree, apparently 
intent on robbing a nest in the limbs above ; the old Jackasses would go some 
distance off, and come with great force past the offender, giving it a striking 
blow on the head with their bills again and again, repeating the performance 
in quick succession until the iguana was forced to beat a hasty retreat to save 
his life. They are also fond of all large grubs and insects.” 
Captain S. A. White sent me the following notes : “ The Laughing Jackass 
is numerous in many parts of the Mt. Lofty Ranges. They keep to the coastal 
timber belts and along the Murray River, the big gum timber bemg their favourite 
habitat. The furthest north that I have met with this bird was in the Fliuders 
Ranges in the vicinity of Port Augusta. I have never seen the bird in the dry 
districts of the interior. It is a very local bird, one pair breeding in the same 
locality for many years. They nest in September, October and November, 
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