76 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
11. Forest Kingfisher Halcyon macleayi Jardine and Selby 
macleayi —W. S. Macleay (1792-1865), naturalist, founder of natural his¬ 
tory in New South Wales. 
Distribution. —North-western, northern, and eastern Australia to as 
far south as north-eastern New South Wales. 
Notes .—Also called Macleay’s Kingfisher, Bush Kingfisher, and Blue 
Kingfisher. It is a stationary species in northern Australia; arrives in 
north-eastern New South Wales in September, departs in March. It is 
very similar in habits to the Sacred Kingfisher; most vicious when nesting; 
the call is loud and is uttered intermittently throughout the day. Food: 
large insects, small lizards, fish, and crabs. The female does not possess 
the white nuchal collar, the colour of the head taking its place. 
Nest .—A hollowed-out cavity in a termites’ nest on a tree, at an 
average height of 30 feet from the ground. 
Eggs .—Four to six, pure white and rounded. Breeding-season: Octo¬ 
ber to December or January. 
12. Red-backed Kingfisher Halcyon pyrrhopygins Gould 
pyi'-rho-pyg f -i-its (g=j)—Gk, pyrrhos, fire-coloured; Gk, pyge, rump , 
tail. 
Distribution .—Australia generally, chiefly the inland portions. 
Notes .—Also called Golden Kingfisher. Usually in pairs. Arrives in 
New South Wales during September, departs in March; only stragglers 
reach the coastal districts, and it is rarely seen east of the Dividing Range. 
It keeps to dry areas,. often miles from water; call, a single mournful 
note, uttered at short intervals, but kept up incessantly. Food: large in¬ 
sects and their larvae and small lizards. 
Nest .—A tunnel in a bank of a dry creek, or in a termites’ nest. 
Eggs. Four or five, pure white and rounded. Breeding-season: Sep¬ 
tember or October to December or January. 
13. Dollar-bird (Broad-billed Roller) Eurystonius orxentalis Linne 
Eur -y-stom -us Gk, eurys, wide; Gk, stoma , mouth: or-i-en-ta -lis —L., 
onentalis, eastern. 
Distribution. North-western Australia, Northern Territory, and 
eastern Australia; also as stragglers in South Australia, Tasmania, Lord 
Howe Island, and New Zealand. 
A otes. Usually in pairs; arrives late September or early October, 
en d February or March. It spends much of its time perched 
? n , . st dead branch of a tall tree, from which it will dart 
in o the air in pursuit of some flying insect. At dusk it “hawks” con- 
lnuous yj* J ? ve ^ ie tr ee-tops, often remaining on the wing for an hour or so 
W1 f r c ' Jt ls t na ™ed “Dollar-bird” from the round whitish spot on each 
I ^ en .y hen ? n flight, and “Roller” from its habit of somersaulting 
no # te is peculiarly harsh and discordant; 
large flying ms^t^ ^ ^ Wing ’ particuIarly towards sunset Food: 
