2o8 Birds Every Child Should Know 

 BELTED KINGFISHER 



Called also: The Halcyon 



This Izaak Walton of birddom, whom you 

 may see perched as erect as a fish hawk on a 

 snag in the lake, creek or river, or on a dead 

 limb projecting over the water, on the lookout 

 for minnows, chub, red fins, samlets or any 

 other small fry that swims past, is as expert as 

 any fisherman you are ever likely to know. 

 Sharp eyes are necessary to see a little fish 

 where sunbeams dance on the ripples and the 

 refracted hght plays queer tricks with one's 

 vision. Once a victim is sighted, how swiftly 

 the lone fisherman dives through the air and 

 water after it, and how accurately he strikes 

 its death-blow behind the gills! If the fish be 

 large and lusty it may be necessary to carry it 

 to the snag and give it a few sharp knocks with 

 his long powerful bill to end its struggles. 

 These are soon over, but the kingfisher's have 

 only begun. See him gag and writhe as he 

 swallows his dinner, head first, and then, re- 

 gretting his haste, brings it up again to try a 

 wider avenue down his throat! Somebody 

 shot a kingfisher which had tried to swallow so 

 large a fish that the tail was sticking out of his 

 mouth, while its head was safely stored below 

 in the bird's stomach. After the meat digests, 



