62 BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



Does not appear such a wild, dashing bird as the Sparrow 

 Hawk, and has more regular hunting grounds. 

 Plumage. — Dark leaden-grey upper plumage, neck, and breast; light 

 yellowish-red, with narrow, longitudinal, dark streaks on sides, 

 wings, and under tail-coverts; blue beak; yellow cere and feet; 

 brown irides; black claws. The female is light red abo\< 

 is also the tail, with transverse spots and bars of dark brown; 

 underneath parts paler than her mate. Length. — Fifteen inches. 



KINGFISHER (Alcedo ispida) 



Local Names. — Halcyon, Slas-y-dorian. 



Haunt. — Rivers, lakes, and streams. 



X est nig Period. — March to July. 



Site of Xest. — A hole in a bank, or wall, near water. 



Materials Used. — Ejected bones of small fish. An untidy and dirty 

 nest. 



Eggs. — Six to Eight. Pure glossy white; .9 by .75 inch. 



Food. — Fish, tadpoles, and water insects. 



Voice. — A sharp, piercing note. 



Chief Features. — Undoubtedly our most gorgeous British bird. 

 Both sexes are equally beautiful. Possesses a strong flight and 

 a watchful patience delightful to notice. The powerful beak 

 and short tail are worthy of note. 



Plumage. — Azure-blue back; bluish-green head and wing-coverts, 

 with azure-blue spots; a band of red under and behind the eye, 

 which passes into white, and underneath this a band of azure- 

 green; greenish-blue wings and tail; white throat; orange-red 

 under parts. Length. — Seven and a half inches. 



KITE (Milvus ictinus) 



Local Names. — Crotched-Tailed Puttock, Fork-Tailed Glead, Fork- 

 Tailed Kite, Glade, Glead, Gled, Greedy Glead, Greedy Kite, 

 Puttock. 



Haunt. — Woods and trees in lonely situations. 



Nesting Period. — May. 



Site of Nest. — A tall tree. 



Materials Used. — Twigs and sticks, lined with wool, hair, etc. 



Fggs. — Three. Dirty white, spotted with brown or reddish-brown, 

 mostly at the larger end. 



l-'ood. — Leverets, rabbits, small mammals, poultry, young game- 

 birds, offal, and dead fish. 



Voice. — A shrill cry, like " whew," and occasionally " keh-kch." 



Chief Features, — Nearly extinct as a British breeding bird, and yet 



