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Nest and Eggs, — These birds breed 

 in boles in the larger branches of tall 

 trees. They do not build any nest, 

 but lay their eggs on the bare wood. 

 In some cases they make use of the 

 deserted nests of other birds. 



They lay three or four pure white 

 eggs with a faint gloss. 



Family, Alcedinidae, The Kingfishers. 



The China Kingfishers have small 

 weak legs and feet ; the fourth toe is 

 united for more than half its length to 

 the third, and the second and third are 

 united at the base. The bill is the most 

 characteristic feature, it is very large, 

 straight, and pointed. The wings are 

 short and rounded but powerful for 

 their size. The tail is very short. 



" Kingfishers are alike remarkable 

 for their brilliant coloration and for the 

 variety of curious and aberrant forms 

 included among their number ". They 

 are solitary birds of somewhat local 

 habit. Their food is chiefly composed 

 of fish, small Crustacea, and similar 

 water forms. 



The family is cosmopolitan, having 

 some 180 species, of which the majority 

 are found in the Malay Archipelago. 

 Six species are found in China, of which 

 four reach the Yangtse Valley. 



LITTLE BLUE KINGFISHER. 



ALCEDO ISPIDA BENGALENSIS GM. 



(Alcedo bengalensis Gm.) 

 Description. — Length 6| inches. 



Bill long, sharp, and black in the 

 male ; the female has upper mandible 

 black shading to orange at base, lower 



