BIRDS OF MANY FAMILIES 201 



head first, straight into the water, seizing the 

 fish in his strong beak; then he rises again to his 

 perch, or swings along the shore to his nest 

 with a rattle of triumph. Often when in full 

 flight, catching sight of a fish near the surface, 

 he hovers for a moment by very rapid move- 

 ment of his wings as though to steady himself 

 for the plunge. But he does not always catch 

 his prey, and dives again and again before 

 his efforts are rewarded. Unlike the Osprey, his 

 talons are not adapted for striking and holding 

 the fish, but his large, strong bill is an excellent 

 implement. Sometimes you will see him come 

 up with wriggling minnow, which he strikes 

 sharply against the limb, probably to stun it 

 before swallowing; at other times the poor vic- 

 tim disappears with no ceremony. 



This bird, too, has fallen under the ban of the 

 guides of the north woods, because of the large 

 number of small trout and salmon he destroys. 

 But their wholesale destruction is not so easily 

 accomplished as in the case of the Blue Heron, for 

 Kingfishers nest in single pairs in a secure cham- 

 ber at the end of a tunnel five or six feet long, 

 excavated in a sand bank. The nest consists of 

 a rough collection of grass, fish bones, bark, 

 sticks, etc., and is not a savory place. As a 

 nest builder he has little skill, but he returns 

 to the same hole year after year. 



The Belted Kingfisher is a bird of striking 

 appearance. On his rather large head is a prom- 

 inent crest, almost black, which gives him a some- 

 what belligerent look. The back, tail and a band 

 across the white breast are a handsome bluish- 



