342 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



easily pass over it, without discovering the nest below. Their 

 nests are sometimes built in small trees and shrubs. I have 

 seen one on the drooping limb of a peach tree, not more than 

 three feet from the ground, and this was carefully covered with 

 moss, though there was none upon the tree. If any one goes 

 up to the nest, the parent flies up to him as an intimation that 

 he is doing wrong, then alights almost within the reach of his 

 arm, and watches his motions with composed attention. The 

 parents feed their young with affectionate care, till they are 

 able to fly, and for about a week after. The young do not 

 come to their full plumage till the following spring. 



HALCYONS 



The Belted Kingfisher, Alcedo alcyon, is found in the 

 neighborhood of fresh waters over all the United States. He 

 may generally be seen sitting on some post or dead branch, near 

 a solitary mill-dam. quietly watching his prey in the element 

 below. If fish do not come near him, he sweeps along the 

 course of the stream with rapid flight, and occasionally hovers 

 over the water, as if watching something beneath. Having 

 made sure of his aim, he darts down and seldom rises without 

 his prey. If scared from his retreat, he flies off with a grating 

 sound of displeasure, resembling the noise of a watchman's rat- 

 tle. When the northern rivers are frozen, the kingfisher re- 

 sorts to the sea, where it may occasionally be seen fishing as 

 in fresh water. The nest of this bird, it is well known, is 

 made in an excavation, scooped in the side of a bank overhang- 

 ing a stream or mill pond. It extends to several feet in length, 

 with a larger chamber at the end. The eggs, about six in 

 number, white, are deposited on some twigs ; grass and feathers. 



