30 
Carpentaria, “The laughing jackass (Dacelo cervina, Gould ) of 
this part of the country is of a different species from that of the 
eastern coast, is of a smaller size and speaks a different language ; 
but the noise is by no means so ridiculous as that of Dacelo gigantea ; 
he is heard before sunrise, and immediately after sunset, like his 
representative of the eastern coast ; the latter was observed as far as 
the upper Lynd, where the new one made his appearance.” — P. 326. 
Genus Halcyon. 
The members of this genus, as now restricted, are found in all the 
islands of the Indian Archipelago, Australia, and New Zealand. 
The Australian species, which are two in number, have many habits 
in common with the Dacelo s , and dwell among other places on the 
open plains, far away from water, and consequently must live for 
considerable periods without a supply of that element. 
60. Halcyon sanctus, Vig. and llorsf. .... Vol. II. PI. 21. 
Universally dispersed over Australia. 
61. Halcyon pyrrhopygia, Gould Vol. II. PI. 22. 
Mr. Gilbert procured examples of this new species during Dr. 
Leichardt’s overland expedition above-mentioned ; Captain Sturt 
found it at the depot in South Australia, and I have received speci- 
mens from the interior of Swan River ; consequently it has a very 
w 7 ide range, but is more an inhabitant of the interior of the country 
than of the districts near the coast. 
62. Halcyon sordidus, Gould Vol. II. PI. 23. 
From the north coast. 
63. Halcyon MacLeayii, Jard. and Selb. . . . Vol. II. PI. 24-. 
Independently of the Cobourg Peninsula, which I have given as 
the true habitat of this bird, I have received specimens from Moreton 
Bay and other parts of the east coast ; it doubtless therefore ranges 
over the whole of the northern and eastern parts of the country. 
Genus Alcyone. 
The members of this genus are so intimately allied to each other 
that I have only deemed it necessary to figure two species, viz. Al- 
cyone azurea and A. pusilla ; the two species not figured are both 
nearly allied to A. azurea , and may be considered its northern and 
southern prototypes, since the one to which I have given the name 
of pulchra inhabits the north coast, and the other, which I have 
called Diemenensis, inhabits Van Diemen’s Land. The A. azurea in- 
habits the intermediate or rather the south-eastern portions of the 
country, but no species of the genus has yet been found in Western 
Australia. They all frequent the margins of rivers, and live on 
small fish and insects, and have many habits in common with the 
members of the genus Alcedo , of which the Kingfisher of Europe, 
A. Ispida, is the type. Although some species are found in New 
Guinea and the Indian Islands, Australia is the country in which 
birds of this form are most abundant. 
