In his ‘Journal of an Overland Expedition from Moreton Bay to Port Essington,’ Dr. Leichardt states that when near the Gulf of 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 its appearance.”—P. 326. Genus HALCYON, _Swains._ 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 four in number, have many habits in common with the _Dacelos_, and like them 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. & Horsf._ Vol. II. Pl. 21. 61. Halcyon pyrrhopygia, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 22. Captain Sturt found this species at the Depôt, and I have received specimens from the Swan River Settlement; consequently it has a very wide range, but is more an inhabitant of the interior than of the districts near the coast. 62. Halcyon sordidus, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 23. 63. Halcyon MacLeayii, _Jard. & Selb._ Vol. II. Pl. 24. Independently of the Cobourg Peninsula, I have received specimens of this bird from Moreton Bay and other parts of the east coast. Genus ALCYONE, _Swains._ The Australian members of this genus are so intimately allied that I have only deemed it necessary to figure two species, viz. _Alcyone 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_ inhabits 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. 64. Alcyone azurea Vol. II. Pl. 25. 65. Alcyone Diemenensis, _Gould_. _Alcyone Diemenensis_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XIV. p. 19.