KINGFISHER, 447 



The young on leaving the nest flit to some neighbouring 

 perch, whence they keep up a clamorous twittering, and, 

 until able to fish for themselves, are for some days fed by 

 their parents with much assiduity. It would seem that more 

 than one brood is often reared in the season, but precise 

 information on this point is wanting. Certain it is that 

 Hewitson's observations (Zool. s.s. pp. 707, 1684 and 3023), 

 continued over several years, prove that the eggs must some- 

 times be laid very early in February, since he knew the 

 young on one occasion to be out of the nest on March 11th, 

 while on the other hand they have been found (Zool. s.s. 

 p. 2022) in the nest so late as July 24th. The most usual 

 breeding time, however, seems to be about the beginning or 

 middle of May. 



Young Kingfishers, taken from the nest, are not hard to 

 rear. At first they require a fish-diet, but will afterwards do 

 well for a time on flesh-meat. If kept in a cage of sufficient 

 size to admit a large trough of clear water, in which they can 

 be supplied with live minnows or the like, they make an 

 interesting display of their habits, and will retain their 

 health ; but they are voracious feeders, and the quantity of 

 fishes they will consume is extraordinary. This renders it 

 difficult without constant care to keep their cage from be- 

 coming offensive, even though it be an outdoor aviary. They 

 are also extremely pugnacious, and, unless separated in 

 autumn, combats ensue in which the strongest will kill the 

 weaker, even to the last bird.* Thus the keeping of King- 

 fishers in confinement is always attended with trouble, and 

 frequently with disappointment. 



The Kingfisher flies rapidly with a very quick action of its 

 short wings, generally near the water and following the 

 windings of the stream along which it is passing, though it 

 will at times suddenly shoot aside and aloft to cross from 

 one reach to another, or on the appearance of danger, occa- 

 sionally uttering a shrill piping cry which may be syllabled 

 te-et, and is not unlike that of the Common Sandpiper. 



* This happened two seasons following to the Author's friend, .Mr. \V. Ray- 

 ner of Uxbridge, whose aviary was, however, seldom without examples. 

 VOL. II. 8 M 



