BELTED KIXGFISHEE 



157 



Kumlien. He found an old feeble Jay, with 

 feathers faded, claws worn, bill dulled, and eyes 

 blurred and dim, who was being protected and 

 cared for by his companions. Some of them were 

 always near to warn him of danger, and besides 

 this, the faithful band would bring him food and 

 carefully lead the old blind bird to a spring for a 

 daily bath. ('Auk,' vol v. p. 434.) 



m/k^M(/M}§ 





Fig. 80. 

 Belted Kingfisher : Ceryle alcyon. 



Adult male, crest and upper parts bluish gray ; under parts 

 ■white ; breast with bluish gray band. Adult female, similar, 

 but sides and band on belly brown. Length, about 13 inches. 



Geographic Distribution. — North America, in the east 

 breeding- from Florida to Labrador, and wintering- from Vir- 

 ginia to South America. 



Not the least of the pleasures of living beside 

 a river or lake is the chance of seeing one of 

 these original birds on his way back and forth to 

 his fishing grounds. Sometimes he flies so low 



