io8 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



curving upwards, but is sometimes more tortuous, accord- 

 ing to the state of the ground which has to be pierced. 

 At the end of the burrow a small chamber is formed. 

 It has been said that this species makes a slight nest of 

 dry grass, but the probability is the eggs are deposited 

 on a layer of fish bones, scales, etc., the remains of the 

 bird's food. Nests are not always made near water, and 

 the bird has been known to breed upwards of a mile 

 from it. The bird is much attached to its nest-hole, is 

 a close sitter, and has even been known to feign being 

 wounded to allure an intruder from its helpless young. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Belted Kingfisher are six or seven in 

 number. They are very rotund in shape, glossy in 

 texture, and pure white. Average measurement 1*35 

 inch in length by 1*05 inch in breadth. Incubation, 

 performed by both sexes, lasts, on the authority of 

 Audubon, sixteen days, but I should feel disposed to 

 put it more probably at four or five days more. 



Diagnostic characters : There is no character by 

 which the eggs of this Kingfisher can be distinguished 

 from those of the Roller, the Pied Kingfisher, or the 

 Smyrna Kingfisher, but of course these species do not 

 breed in America. Locality is therefore of some service 

 in identifying them. 



