306 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 
a burrow in a bank of sand or gravel, in which to lay their eggs, 
and that they most often do so near water, and not far from 
the ground, are undisputed facts. The eggs of each set are 
six or seven, average 1°35X1:05 of an inch, and are pure 
white. 
(c). The Belted Kingfisher is well known, and “in the sum- 
mer is found in every portion of North America, to the Arctic 
Ocean on the north, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific.” § 
In New England, this species is occasionally resident through- 
out the year, but more often appears about the first of April, 
and remains until late in the autumn. Near Boston it probably 
cannot be much longer ranked as a common bird, since, being 
naturally shy, unsocial, and averse to the intrusion of man, 
it prefers wilder and less cultivated portions of the country. 
Our common Kingfishers are more conspicuous than actually 
abundant, and two pairs are rarely found to occupy the same 
hunting-grounds. ‘They may be found scattered throughout 
the State, and stationed at mill-ponds, lakes, rivers, and 
trout-streams. Such places are their chosen haunts, and there 
they search for their prey, while some neighboring sand-bank 
affords them a place to excavate their long burrows, which they 
do with both bill and feet. They are frequently obliged to 
wander in search of their food, as I have seen them in warm 
weather flying across the country at some distance from any 
large body or stream of water. They fly rapidly, with an in- 
termittent beating of the wings. When watching for fish, 
upon which they feed almost exclusively, they perch on a fence 
or tree which stands immediately next to or overhangs the 
water. From this post they regard the water closely, some- 
times flirting their tail or sounding their loud rattle. On see- 
ing a fish, they plunge, so as to be completely immersed, and 
seizing it with their sharply pointed beak, carry it to shore, 
where they quickly swallow it. Sometimes they hunt like 
hawks, and, flying over the surface of the ponds, hover before 
plunging. On the approach of man, they usually retreat to 
® Messrs. Baird, Brewer, & Ridgway’s ‘‘ North American Birds.” 
