50 EGYPTIAN BIRDS 



is said to breed in Egypt, and probably does in 

 localities suited to it. 



The food is chiefly fish, and it has often been 

 noted that it swallows such prey, after one or two 

 preparatory blows, head foremost. In flight it 

 hardly seems to move its wings, or they are moved 

 so quickly that the eye does not catch the move- 

 ment, it seems to pass along smoothly, literally like 

 an arrow. This bird, like so many bright plumaged 

 ones, is no songster, and has only a sort of shrill call 

 note. Both male and female are alike in plumage, 

 but the female has more red on the lower bill. 



There is one other Kingfisher that may be 

 met with, the Little Indian Kingfisher, very 

 similar in plumage to the last, but it is a smaller 

 bird and its bill is longer. I do not think I have 

 ever seen it, though I know those who say they 

 have noticed it several times on the rushing water 

 in the Assoan district. 



