COMMON KINGFISHER. — 343 
The note of the Kingfisher is a shrill peep, and when repeated several 
times in succession, which is usually when the bird is alarmed or disturbed 
from its perching-place, is shortened into pip, pip, pip. Sometimes this 
note is uttered in a much more plaintive tone than at others. As a rule 
the Kingfisher is a comparatively silent bird, and its notes are often so 
low as to be scarcely audible at a short distance. 
The Kingfisher lives principally on small fish; but it also eats various 
kinds of insects and their larve. It also captures shrimps, and has been 
known to take small crabs ; and Naumann states that when hard pressed 
it will take leeches. Stevenson, in his ‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ mentions an 
instance of a Kingfisher taking a small shrew—an act, however, which 
cost the poor bird its life. All the indigestible portions of its food are 
cast up in pellets, most, if not all of them, in the roosting- or breeding- 
place. 
The Kingfisher is said to pair very early in the year; but these unions 
are probably confined to young or single birds, for there can be little 
doubt that the bird pairs for life. It is a somewhat early breeder, and the 
eggs are laid by the end of April or beginning of May ; in exceptional 
cases it has been known to lay as early as February; and Mr. Carter, of 
Bedale, has written to inform me of a nest containing young ones on the 
12th of May. Not only are eggs sometimes found very early in the year, 
but others are often discovered very late, no doubt the produce of birds 
whose earlier efforts had been unsuccessful, for they appear to have only 
one brood in the season. The Kingfisher rears its young in a hole, which 
it generally makes for itself, or less frequently adapts for its purpose one 
ready made. This hole is made in the banks of the stream it frequents ; but 
the presence of water is not absolutely necessary, for several instances are 
on record where it has reared its young at some distance from a stream. 
For many years one or two pairs of Kingfishers have bred regularly in small 
gravel-pits in a plantation adjoining my brother’s garden in the town of 
Hitchin, at a considerable distance from water. It has also been known 
to lay its eggs in a hole in a wall. The usual situation is under a bank of 
moderately soft soil, often amongst the gnarled roots or under the shelter 
of overhanging bushes. It is at various heights from the ground, the bira 
not appearing to have any special choice. Mr. Carter also informs me 
that in his neighbourhood “they constantly build in company with a 
eolony of Sand-Martins, the earth being suitable for both birds.” When 
the spot has been selected (if the birds are not already in possession of a 
hole, for they will return year after year to the old quarters if left unmo- 
lested) , they immediately begin operations ; but if disturbed they will often 
forsake their work and commence another hole close at hand. Sometimes 
a large stone or a root stops the way, and it often happens that several 
attempts are made before the little birds are suited. The Kingfisher breeds 
