306 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



a bu'iToiv in a bank of sand or gravel, in which to lay their eggs, 

 and that thej' most often do so near water, and not far from 

 the ground, are undisputed facts. The eggs of each set are 

 six or seven, average 1-35X1"05 of an inch, and are pure 

 white. 



(c). The Belted Kingfisher is well known, and " in the sum- 

 mer is found in eveiy portion of North America, to the Arctic 

 Ocean on the noi'th, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific." ^ 

 In New England, this species is occasional!}- resident through- 

 out the 3'ear, but more often appears about the first of April, 

 and remains until late in the autumn. Near Boston it probably 

 cannot be much longer ranked as a common bird, since, being 

 naturally shy, unsocial, and averse to tlie intrusion of man, 

 it prefers wilder and less cultivated portions of the country. 



Our common Kingfishers are more conspicuous than actually 

 abundant, and two pairs are rarel}'^ found to occupy the same 

 hunting-grounds. They may be found scattered throughout 

 the State, and stationed at mill-ponds, lakes, rivers, and 

 trout-streams. Such places are tlieir chosen haunts, and thei'e 

 thej' search for their pre}', while some neighboring sand-bank 

 afljords them a place to excavate their long burrows, whicli they 

 do with both bill and feet. The}^ are frequently obliged to 

 wander in search of their food, as I have seen them in warm 

 weatlier fl3'ing across the country at some distance from any 

 Large body or stream of water. They fly rapidl}', with an in- 

 termittent beating of the wings. When watching for fish, 

 upon which they feed almost exclusively, they perch on a fence 

 or tree which stands immediately next to or overhangs the 

 water. From this post the}'' regard the water closely, some- 

 times flirting their tail or sounding their loud rattle. On see- 

 ing a fish, they plunge, so as to be completely immersed, and 

 seizing it with their sharply pointed beak, carry it to shore, 

 where they quickly swallow it. Sometimes they hunt like 

 hawks, and, flying over the surface of the ponds, hover before 

 plunging. On the approach of man, they usually retreat to 



8 Messrs. Baiid, Brewer, & Uidgwaj's " North American Birds." 



