The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-06-07
A Remarkable Kingfisher.

The Illustrated NeWs, of Adelaide,
Australia, gives the following particulars
of this interesting bird " The laughing
jackass is almost too well known to need
description. From his peculiar scream
ing laugh, not unlike the bray OF a
donkey, he has obtained the name OF the
laughing iackass.' He is eighteen
inches long, with a powerful bill, and
feeds Unfortunately on any animal OF
suitable size. His appearance and ex-
traordinary note are familiar to the In
habitants of every country village.
Indeed, he frequently extends his re-
searches into the neighborhood OF towns,
occasionally taking up his abode for life
in some healthy suburb, and punctually
entertaining the inhabitants thereof,
morning and evening, with succession
of those singular sounds which have
rendered his name famous. Although q
kingfsher, he never procures his food
from the water, after the orthodox
fashion of kingfshers, but has more the
habits of bird of prey. Sitting motion
less among the lower branches of some
tall gum tree unnoticed, and apparently
half asleep, be waits, like Micawber, for
something to turn up. Suddenly, with.
out noise, he drops off his bough and
flies direct to certain spot, whence ne
soon returns, bearing in his leak a
lizard, a small snake, or perhaps rat.
His acuteness of sight is extraordinary.
From his elevated post he seems to miss
nothing, and discerns his prey in swamps
and crevices of rocks at distance that
is perfectly astounding. The Laughing
iackass has the ADVANTAGE of being able
to live on almost anything that presents
itself; hence he is always in good condl-
ton, and apparently in good humor.
He seems, indeed, to pass his life In SELF
congratulations; and when four or i've
meet and unite their voices, and they
invariably do, morning and evening, the
noise would suggest the idea that party
of demons had broken loose and were
rejoicing over some piece of successful
mischief. But in spite of his careless,
happy life, the laughing iackass has his
peculiar duty, and he performs it con-
scientiously. Snake killing is his spes,,
cialty lizards, frogs, beetles, small
birds, rats, etc., are his usual food. In
fact, nothing comes amiss to him; let a
snake appear upon the scene, and the
laughing iackass recognizes his quarry
at once. Never hesitating, he makes
straight for it, his agitation being OBJ
servable by the quivering crest feathers.
With some caution, he swoops back
wards and forwards, seeking an oppor-
tunity to seize the reptile. The snake,
with head erect, ready to strike, keeps
on the alert. The excitement continues
for some time till the bird finally settles
down, close by, on the ground. But all
his stolid heavy appearance is gone.
His wings and tail culver with ag1tatlon
and eagerness. Fully alive to the dan
gerous character of his opponent, he
keeps at safe distance. Fitting round,
his head just out of reach, he continues
to annoy it, till becoming exhausted, the
snake affords him the opportunity ne is
seeking. With the rapidty of Lightning
the bird descends upon his prey, then
rises in the air, bearing with him the
captured snake, neatly held just behind
the head, in such position as to render
it perfectly powerless. Rising until he
has attained a considerable height, he
directs his fight to more open part OF
the country, then suddenly backing In
the air, he drops the reptile, following
it down and reaching the ground almost
at the same time. Stunned and bruised,
the unfortunate snake is in no condition
to renew the contest, and is very soon
dispatched and eaten by its victorious
aparnuo