The Giast Kingfisher. BIRDS. The Austrai.ian Kingfi.sher. 299 
he breaks out into his usual laugh, probably expressive 
but a few minutes elapse before it is roasting over the 
of his satisfaction at the proceedings going on before 
fire it was lately surveying with so much curiosity.” 
him ; but his cachinnatory explosion often costs him his 
The name Kingfisher applied to this bird, and indeed 
life, “ for if, as is often the case,” says Mr. Gould, “ the 
to all the following species, is, perhaps, a misnomer, 
traveller’s larder be ill provided, and his appetite keen. 
Fig. 
and can only be justified by the desire to indicate how 
106 . 
The Giant Kingfisher (Dacelo gigas). 
closely these birds are allied to the true kingfishers. 
None of them amiear to be aquatic in their habits, but 
they feed upon insects and other terrestrial animals, so 
northern and north-western coast, by the Buff- 
breasted Kingfisher (Z). cervina). Another species 
{D. Gaudichatcdii) inhabits New Guinea; their mode 
that the name of Hunters is riiore applicable to them 
of life is, for the most part, very similar to that of the 
than that of Fishers. Accordingly some naturalists 
Giant Kingfisher of New South Wales. 
have proposed to denominate these birds Kinghunters, 
THE AUSTRALIAN KINGFISHER {Halcyon sancta). 
and the F rench term Martins chasseurs, expresses the 
— The numerous species to which the generic name of 
same opposition to the habits of the Kingfishers, or 
Halcyon has been applied, are all inhabitants of the ' 
Martins pecheiirs. The Giant Kingfisher is a great 
eastern hemisphere, in all parts of which, with the 
hunter, feeding voraciously upon insects, reptiles, and 
exception of Europe, some of them occur. They have 
crabs. Mr. Gould says, “ it devours lizards with 
three toes in front and one behind, but the inner front 
avidity, and it is not an unfrequent sight to see it bear- 
toe is very small. The present species, which is called 
ing off a snake in its bill to be eaten at leisure.” It 
the Australian Kingfisher, from its receiving the name 
also preys on small mammalia. Hence, unlike the true 
of kingfisher from our colonists, is generally dispersed 
kingfishers, this bird is not confined to the vicinity of 
over the whole continent of Australia. It measures 
water ; indeed Mr. Gould believes that it seldom if 
about eight inches in length, including the powerful 
ever drinks, so that the driest plains serve it as a habi- 
bill, wdiich is black, with the base of the lower mandible 
tation. It breeds in August and September, depositing 
white ; the crown of the head, the back, and scapularies, 
its eggs, which are of a beautiful pearl white colour, in 
and the wings and tail are green, the latter tinged with 
a hole in some large gum-tree, upon the dust and 
blue ; a line running from each nostril over the eye is 
decomposed wood which lines the bottom. It defends 
buff ; a broad blackish-green band separates the green 
its liest and young with great courage, and its formid- 
of the head from a broad buff collar which surrounds 
able bill enables it to inflict very severe wounds. 
the neck ; the throat is nearly white, and the Avhole 
This bird is represented in other parts of Australia 
lower surface of the body buff, deeper on the flanks. 
by nearly allied but distinct species ; in the north- 
This handsome spedes is a summer resident in the 
eastern part of that continent its place is taken by 
southern parts of Australia, from which it retires north- 
Leach’s Kingfisher (Z). Leachii), and along the 
Avards after the breeding season is over. Its food con- 
