350 BRITISH BIRDS. 
The Belted Kingfisher rears its young in a hole, which is usually made 
in the clayey banks of a stream or pond, near the bird’s favourite fishing- 
grounds. ‘The hole always appears to be excavated by the birds, and much 
time is spent over the task. Both birds perform the work, one relieving 
the other, and burrowing incessantly until the hole is completed. Some- 
times the excavation is finished in a single night; but if the bank is 
not so suitable and readily tunnelled, a much longer time is taken. The 
hole varies considerably in depth, sometimes being only four feet from the 
opening to the nest-chamber, at others as much as fifteen feet. Some 
holes are perfectly straight, whilst others turn from side to side, usually 
when near the end. All the holes are enlarged at the end into a sort of 
chamber, and in this the eggs are deposited. The balance of evidence 
seems to be in favour of the fact that this bird does not build any nest ; 
but earlier writers on American birds have stated that dry grass &c. is 
placed in the nest-chamber. ‘The Belted Kingfisher does not always nest 
near water, and instances are on record where it has bred more than a 
mile from it. It is very much attached to its favourite hole, and when 
once a pair have selected a place for their nest, they are with difficulty 
driven away from it, and will continue to use their hole even if their eggs 
are taken from time to time. The eggs of the Belted Kingfisher, usually 
laid in April or May, are generally six in number, rarely seven, and are, 
when blown, pure and glossy white, and vary in length from 1:4 to 1°3 
inch, and in breadth from 1:06 to 1-02inch. Their size, of course, prevents 
them from being confused with those of the Common Kingfisher ; but they 
are indistinguishable from the eggs of the Pied Kingfisher and the Smyrna 
Kingfisher, species found in South-east Europe and Asia. 
The Belted Kingfisher is devotedly attached to its young; and Audubon 
states that the female will drop into the water as if wounded, and flutter 
along as if unable to rise from the surface, to lure an intruder away, and 
that the male erects his crest and flies to and fro with angry cries when 
the nest is menaced. The young birds remain in the nest-hole until fully 
fledged, and are said, when able to fly, to roost in it at night, and to return 
there in stormy weather for shelter. The young appear to be tended for 
some little time after they leave the nest by their parents, who often feed 
them ; but they are deserted before the time of migration arrives, when 
they leave their parents and their birthplace for ever. In the northern 
parts of its range only one brood appears to be brought up during the 
year; but in the south two are said to be reared. 
The Belted Kingfisher preys upon small fish, crabs, lizards, &c., whilst 
its large size and powerful form allow it to cope successfully with mice. 
All the hard and indigestible portions of its food are cast up in the shape 
of pellets, and its nest-hole often contains a great number of them. In 
that portion of its range where the winters are severe enough to freeze up 
