HALCYON KINGFISHER. G'J9 



naturalists to revise their opinions as to flight, founded merely 

 upon the length and breadth of wings ; for a long wing is not 

 always so well adapted for speed as a short one, and a Guille- 

 mot can easily outstrip a Gull. Its feet are not adapted for 

 walking or hopping, and therefore it takes its stand on a stone, 

 a stump, a rail, or a branch overhanging the water, waits with 

 patience, and when a minnow or a stickleback comes near the 

 surface, darts upon it, and secures it. In like manner it sal- 

 lies forth in pursuit of the larger insects. Although very shy, 

 insomuch that one can very seldom get within shot of it when 

 perched, it does not shun the vicinity of human habitations, but, 

 on the contrary, often breeds at no great distance from them. 

 It does not associate with any other birds, and it is seldom that 

 even two of its own species are seen together. Being highly 

 prized by collectors and others, it is much harassed, and although 

 nowhere plentiful, may be obtained in almost any district to the 

 south of the Forth and Clyde. In some places they leave the 

 larger streams in autumn and betake themselves to the brooks, 

 so that a person not aware of their habits in this respect might 

 suppose them to be migratory. Even in the more northern 

 parts, however, they remain all the year, and I have seen spe- 

 cimens shot near Edinburgh in December and January. 



" In my neighbourhood," Mr Weir writes to me, " King- 

 fishers are never seen before the beginning of September, and 

 they usually disappear about the end of March. They then re- 

 tire to the river Avon, where they breed. In Bathgate and 

 Boarbaughlaw Waters, they prefer those parts where the banks 

 are covered with alders and willows. In severe winters they some- 

 times become so tame that they even venture within a few feet of 

 the door of Bathgate Mill, which is situate in the immediate vi- 

 cinity of houses. I have had opportunities at different times, 

 during the month of March, inthree successive seasons, of observ- 

 ing through an aperture in an old ' Galloway dyke,"" situate about 

 twenty-five feet from a rivulet in this parish, the habits of a 

 male Kingfisher. His flight was very rapid, and in a straight 

 and horizontal direction. Upon the top of an old wall, three 

 feet in height, and at a short distance from the edge of the 

 stream, or upon a small bough overhanging it, he usually perched, 



