THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
162 
note closely resembling the croak of a frog, and it also has a pleasing 
whistling call-note. Food : insects of various kinds and small crustaceans. 
A T est .—A cup-shaped structure, composed of strips of bark bound 
together with spiders’ webs, decorated on the outside with pieces of bark 
and lichen; lined with fine rootlets. Usually built in trees or vines over¬ 
hanging water. 
Eggs .—Two or three, bluish or greenish-white, spotted with brownish 
and lavender markings, particularly at the larger end, often forming 
a zone. Breeding-season : October to January or February. 
16. Yellow-billed Kingfisher Syma torotoro Lesson—16A. Female 
Syma —Svme Island in the /Egean Sea: torotoro —native name. 
Distribution . —Northern Queensland (Cape York) ; also occurs in the 
Aru Islands and New Guinea. 
Notes . — Also called Saw-billed Kingfisher. The New Guinea form is 
a mangrove-dwelling species, whilst the Cape York form usually inhabits 
the scrub and open forest-lands. It has a mournful trilling call, ascending 
the scale, and difficult to locate. Food: insects (chieflv beetles), small rep¬ 
tiles, and crustaceans. 
Nest .—In a hole in a termites’ nest in a tree. 
Eggs. Ihree or four, pure white. Breeding-season: November and 
December or January. 
17. Mangrove Kingfisher Halcyon chloris Boddaert 
Hal-cy-on Gk, alcyon , a sea-bird, later the kingfisher, hal, the sea, cyon, 
breeding: chlor-is —Gk, chloros, yellow-green. 
Distribution .—Northern Australia, as far south as Brisbane on the 
east coast and Point Cloates on the west coast. 
Notes.—A migratory species, inhabiting the mangroves; its note is 
similar to that of the Sacred Kingfisher, but much louder; it is usually 
seen m pairs or small parties. Food: small fish and crustaceans. 
Nest. In a hole in a termites’ nest, in a hollow limb, or in a hole in 
a tree. ’ 
^99 s - Three, pure white. Breeding-season: October to December. 
18 * Phase Butcher ‘ bird Cracticus quoyi Lesson and Garnot—18A. Red 
cra . cticos > loud-voiced: quoyi—Jean Rene Ouoy (1790- 
1869), French scientist and explorer, associated with Gaimard. 
occur?Tn r New°G^a. rthern Territ ° r ^ and northem Queensland; also 
lirnnrf^tbf kT^i W °i ccdoi ? r .P bas es are known ; both often occur in the same 
in! i t'’ ack phas . e bcm g th e more plentiful. Usually in pairs, inhabit- 
Foorl T-*fl grOVeS j xt ,s a melodious songster, with rich, flute-like notes, 
imod. chiefly crustaceans and insects of various kinds. 
