286 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



which it fishes ; these may be a few inches or many feet above 

 the water. It sits upright, its tail pointed downwards, its head 

 turned contemplatively as it watches the water beneath ; 

 suddenly it drops with a splash and usually returns at once with 

 a struggling captive. If a large and lively fish it is beaten into 

 impotence on a bough or rail ; a favourite execution block 

 often glistens with many fish scales. Small fish and insects are 

 promptly swallowed. A fish is usually lifted and carried by the 

 middle, but its position is changed, sometimes by tossing it 

 into the air, before it is swallowed head downwards. It may 

 be carried to the sitting hen held crossways or by the head, and 

 I have once seen a loach carried by the tail. At times the 

 Kingfisher hovers over the water, but not like the Kestrel ; the 

 body is held almost vertical, the tail and head bent slightly 

 forward, the bill inclined downwards ; the bird holds itself in 

 this position by rapidly whirring wings. It will poise thus over 

 the shallows, dropping on passing gammarids, and yet checking 

 its descent so as not to injure itself on the stones. When 

 perched and conscious that it is observed the bird jerks its head 

 and tail constantly, the latter forward, not upwards, but as a 

 rule it is a quiet patient fisherman. 



The nest is tunnelled in a sandy bank, usually though not 

 always over water ; both birds excavate, except when an old 

 hole of Sand- Martin or water-vole is appropriated. Most 

 that I have examined have inclined upward for about three 

 feet before the nesting chamber is reached. There is no nest, 

 but the six to seven or even more round white eggs (Plate ii8) 

 are placed on a litter of fish bones and disgorged pellets ; these 

 eggs are pink until blown. Accounts differ about the condition 

 of the nesting chamber, but I am inclined to agree with Mr. 

 W. Rowan, who found it clean, except for the fishy matter, 

 though the tunnel is a running sewer of greenish liquid and 

 decomposed fish and smells abominably. The first clutch 

 is usually laid in April, but second broods are often in the nest 



