HALCYON KINGFISHER. 681 



and leaving the banks of the Soar, in order to regain the up- 

 land, proceeded along the margin of a brook that rises in the 

 forest of Charnwood, and joins the Soar at Loughborough. 

 We had not made many paces from the confluence of these 

 streams, when we saw a Kingfisher hovering over the middle of 

 the stream, which at this point was not frozen over. It hovered, 

 plunged, brought up its prey, and in an instant was on wing. 

 We made a double of the brook, when the bird passing us like 

 a meteor, my friend fired ; but the bang, bang, of Joe Man- 

 ton"'s two barrels told not. Redoubling our pace, and crossing 

 the angles of the brook in difterent directions, we again came 

 within shot, when my frientl fired, and missed. The bird 

 passed us like an arrow fully barbed, retained its prey in its 

 mandibles, and in an instant was out of reach. 



" The Kingfisher suffers much from severity of weather. In 

 the extremely rigorous winter of 1838, in the months of Janu- 

 ary and February, many were found dead on the banks of our 

 river, and several of them came under my notice. I have yet 

 to learn whether any partial migration goes on in the brumal 

 months. In these parts Kingfishers abound, and I have every 

 reason to believe that their numbers are never diminished by 

 this cause, whatever may be supposed by persons whose know- 

 ledge of the habits of birds is derived from books. This bird 

 has a shrill and piercing note, which it emits when on wing, 

 and which is different from that of any other British bird with 

 which I am acquainted. How much better it would be for 

 writers on natural history to speak positively, when they can 

 do so, than doubtfully ! Mr Yarrell states that ' it is said to 

 have a shrill piping note,"" and if he never heard it, he does 

 well ; otherwise the information is not satisfactory. 



" Towards the beginning of May the Kingfisher begins to 

 prepare a place for its eggs, and in June the young come 

 abroad. The female makes no nest whatever ; at least, in 

 the breeding-places which I have examined, I have never dis- 

 covered any such materials as straws, or moss, or weeds. The 

 eggs, five, six, or seven in number, roundish, and perfectly 

 white, are deposited at the upper end of a rat's hole, generally 

 in the bank of a stream, or fish-pond. The hole which has 



