1 82 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Very often a few droppings at the entrance or on the 

 branches near betray the secret of the nest. The hole, 

 which takes about a fortnight to complete, is from three 

 to four feet in depth, slopes upwards, and enlarges into a 

 chamber at the end. Here, often on the refuse of the 

 bird's food, and generally a varying amount of fish-bones, 

 with no other nest whatever, the eggs are deposited. 

 The Kingfisher sits closely, and is a remarkably shy and 

 wary bird at the nest. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Kingfisher are from six to ten in num- 

 ber, eight being an average clutch. They are pure and 

 spotless white, with a considerable amount of polish, and 

 very globular in shape. Average measurement, "9 inch 

 in length, by 75 inch in breadth. Incubation, performed 

 by both sexes, lasts from fourteen to sixteen days. 



Diagnostic characters : The pure and glossy 

 white colour, combined with the rotund form, readily 

 distinguish the eggs of the Kingfisher from those of any 

 other species breeding in our islands. 



Family STRIGTD.F:. Genus Ai.uco. 



Sub-family STRIGIN.-E. 



BARN OWL. 



Aluco flammeus {LhwcEus). 



Double Brooded. Laying season, April to October, and 

 exceptionally later. 



British breeding area : The Barn Owl is pretty 

 generally distributed throughout the British Islands, with 

 the exception of the Outer Hebrides, the Orkneys, and 

 the Shctlands. It becomes much more local and scarce 



