168 EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



counties of England. Although not a northern bird, it has a very 

 extensive range, and breeds commonly in temperate and southern 

 Europe south of lat. 56°. 



The breeding-season commences in the middle of May, and 

 eggs may be found from that time onwards until the second week 

 in June, the nest being placed in holes in trees, especially willows, 

 or in a suitable hollow in a rock or old wall. There is scarcely 

 any nest, merely a few straws, roots, and often pieces of dried 

 cow-dung as a lining to the hole ; but sometimes the eggs rest 

 on the dead wood alone, or on the remains of the old nest of a 

 Starling, or other bird that had previously been in possession of 

 the site. 



The eggs are from five to seven in number, and many of them 

 when newly-laid are pale bluish-green, but they soon fade or 

 become stained in the nest. They vary considerably in colour ; 

 some are pale greenish-blue, almost the colour of those of the 

 Starling; others are of different shades of olive; some are lavender- 

 grey, and others stone-colour. Some specimens have a consi- 

 derable amount of gloss, and the surface is full of small pits and 

 streaky hollows, which gives them the appearance of being dusted 

 over with minute white specks. The eggs in each clutch do not 

 differ much amongst themselves. They vary in length from 1*15 

 to 0'96 inch, and in breadth from 0"77 to 0'65 inch. It is not 

 easy to confuse the eggs of the Hoopoe with those of any other 

 European bird, the peculiar texture of the shell being sufficient 

 to identify them at a glance. 



FAMILY ALCEDINIDM, 

 OB KINGFISHERS. 



THE COMMON KINGFISHEE. 

 Alcedo ispida. 



Plate 48, Fig. 7. 



The Kingfisher is a resident on the banks of most of our lakes, 

 rivers, and brooks throughout the British Islands, except in the 

 Outer Hebrides and the extreme north of Scotland. It has a 



