116 THE BIRDS OF OXFORDSHIRE. 



'^ trO 



THE KINGFISHER. \ ^ -^ 



Alcedo ispida. 

 The Kingfisher is resident in some numbers. No bird 

 perhaps has greater difficulties attending its increase, and 

 having regard to its comparative abundance under these 

 circumstances, there is no doubt that with favourable seasons 

 and exemption from persecution, the Kingfisher would in 

 a few years become a very common bird in most parts of 

 Oxfordshire, which, with its many streams having high 

 earthy banks suitable for the excavation of nesting-holes, 

 presents many attractions for this beautiful species. Not 

 only, however, is it shot or captured on every ojiportunity, 

 but it also suffers greatly from severe winters. When our 

 streams are bound in the grip of frost the Kingfisher is cut off 

 entirely from its food supply, and must starve. The Rev. 

 H. A. Maepherson believed that one Oxford bird-stuffer 

 received hundreds in the winter of 1878-9; and again after 

 the great frost and snow-storm of January, 1881, when the 

 Cherwell was frozen and choked up with snow, numbers were 

 found dead in the river after the ice had broken up. Although 

 generally dropping upon its prey from some branch or root 

 overhanging the water, the Kingfisher is occasionally ob- 

 served to hover like a Kestrel. The following extract from 

 my notebook relates to an early morning visit to Clattercote 

 Reservoir. Whilst watching some birds on the opposite bank, 

 a Kingfisher crossed the range of the glasses and splashed 

 into the water, whence it rose with a small glistening fish ; it 

 settled on the wooden frame-work, now some feet above the 

 surface of the water. After sitting motionless for a short 

 time, it suddenly took wing, rose in the air, and remained 

 poised on rajiidly-beating wings for perhaps a quarter of 

 a minute or twenty seconds, then dropped like a stone into 

 the water, rose, and flew off. When thus poised the vivid 

 beauty of the bird was past description ; hanging in mid-air 



