64 ALCEDINID^ : KINGFISHERS, 



elbowed, is dug by the bird with its spear-Hke beak; 

 and in the chambered extremity of this excavation the 

 nest is made, — if a few fish-bones can be called a nest. 

 The sites selected are such as the Bank Swallow chooses ; 

 and not seldom a gravel-pit, pepper-boxed with Swallow's 

 holes, shows one larger orifice than the rest, out of which, 

 if one watch long enough, a Kingfisher will be seen to 

 dart with amazing celerity and exultant cry. The eggs 

 are laid late in May and in June, They average seven 

 in number, are pure white (like those of most hole-breed- 

 ers), and measure about 1.35 X i.oo. The Kingfisher nests 

 are usually " handy" to the water, but not necessarily so ; 

 for when no eligible site offers by the margin of the 

 stream or pond, it is a matter of a few moments for the 

 sturdy, sinewy bird to go a mile or more from his fishing- 

 waters and find himself suited. As regards his relations 

 with man, the bird has none that it cares to cultivate ; 

 is a thoroughly solitary, self-possessing creature, neither 

 courting nor shunning observation, but simply indiffer- 

 ent ; and one who minds his own business so well as to 

 be a perpetual rebuke to the busy-bodies who make 

 so much mischief in the society of featherless "forked 

 radishes." 



