FOREST KINGFISHER. 
Gould’s notes are the most complete yet offered and, as little lias since 
been added, I here quote them. He wrote : “ There has not yet been 
discovered in Australia a more beautiful Kingfisher than the one dedicated 
to the late Alexander MacLeay by the authors of the ‘ Illustrations of 
Ornithology ’ as a tribute of respect for his scientific labours, in the propriety 
of which I entirely concur. 
“ The extreme brilliancy of the plumage of this bird would indicate that 
it is a native of the hotter portions of the country, and the correctness of this 
inference is borne out by the fact that it inhabits all the eastern provinces 
from Moreton Bay to the extreme northern portions of the continent ; it is 
tolerably abundant at Port Essington, and it is also spread over nearly every 
part of the Cobourg Peninsula suited to its habits ; like the other members 
of the genus to which it belongs, it is rarely, if ever, seen near water, and 
evinces so decided a preference for the forests of the interior that it has obtained 
the name of ‘ Bush Kingfisher ’ from the residents at Port Essington ; it 
is generally dispersed about in pairs, and feeds on small reptiles, insects, and 
their larvae ; its general note is a loud pee-'pee^ uttered with considerable 
rapidity. It incubates in November and December, sometimes forming its 
nest in the hollow trunks of trees, and at others excavating a hole for itseh 
in the nest of the tree-ants, which presents so prominent and singular a feature 
in the scenery of the country ; the nest of the C. Macleayi is easily discovered, 
for, on the approach of an intruder, the birds immediately commence flying 
about in a very wild manner, uttering at the same time a loud piercing cry 
of alarm. ... So much difference exists in the plumage of the sexes, that 
Gilbert states he wns for some time induced to regard them as specifically 
distinct — an error into which I had myself previously fallen when describing 
the female as a new species. ... ‘ but upon closer observation,’ adds 
Gilbert, ‘ I soon satisfied myself that the difference of plumage was 
merely sexual, the dissection of a large number of specimens fully proving 
that those with a ring round the neck are males and those without it 
females.’ ” 
Mr. J. P. Rogers sent me the following notes from Melville Island : 
“ Cooper’s Camp. November 5, 1917. This is the common Forest Kingfisher 
here at present, and is usually found in the forest, but at times is seen on the 
edges of the mangroves. During the past month I have seen many birds 
making holes in termites’ nests up to fifty feet from the ground. On the 
6th November a nest with five eggs was found, and a hundred yards away 
another termite’s nest with a hole in it was seen : this contained one egg, 
and when I examined it several days later the nest was abandoned and the 
egg destroyed. January 13, 1912. Locality : 10 miles S.E. of Snake Bay. 
165 
