The Kingfisher 



sea-shore, where the restless tide brings him in a continual 

 supply of food. The sea-shore, however, is not to his taste, 

 and at the first break-up of the frost he returns again to his 

 inhospitable home. Early in April he turns his attention 

 to housekeeping. Like most bright-plumaged birds, he has 

 no song with which to woo his mate, but at such times they 

 may often be seen chasing each other about up and down 

 the stream, uttering their shrill and sharp call-note. A 

 perpendicular wall in the bank of the river is chosen, and 

 near the top of this they excavate a long low tunnel with 

 the end slightly widened out to form a chamber. The nest 

 is peculiar, being formed of a mass of small regurgitated 

 bones, and on this the six pure white and highly glossed 

 eggs are laid. As soon as the young are fledged and 

 thoroughly able to earn their own living, they are driven away 

 from their home and forced to seek winter-quarters elsewhere. 

 Many, especially in the northern portions of its range, go 

 to the sea-shore and migrate, while others seek out some 

 quiet stream where they may fish in undisputed possession, 

 till the return of spring impels them to seek a mate and 

 form a home for themselves. The sexes are practically 

 alike in plumage. The top of the head, wings, and malar 

 stripe are dark greenish blue, mottled with lighter ; back 

 and rump brilliant cobalt blue ; tail dark blue. The under 

 parts, lores, and ear coverts are chestnut ; throat whitish ; 

 bill black, orange at the base ; legs deep red. The young 

 bird is duller and shows traces of greenish on the breast. 

 Length 7*5 in. ; wing 3 in. 



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