THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 
be found during April, May, and June. Its nest is seldom 
far from the waterside, and is made usually in a hole in 
the bank. In some cases this is dug out by the old birds, 
in others a disused rat-hole is utilised. Ata distance often 
of several feet, in a small chamber, and on fish-bones and 
other food refuse, the hen lays from six to ten polished 
white eggs. ‘The young are tended for some time after 
they leave the nest, but finally disappear from the 
locality. 
The adult Kingfisher has the general colour of the 
upper parts, including the cheeks, emerald-green, the back 
and upper tail-coverts cobalt-blue, the head, cheeks, and 
wing-coverts spotted profusely with the latter colour ; 
the under parts are bright chestnut, shading into buffish 
white on the throat; the sides of the neck below the 
crest are buffish white. Bill black; tarsi and toes red; 
irides dark brown. Length 74 inches. The nestling 
resembles the parents in general colour, but the under 
parts are browner and marked with greenish grey; the 
bill, tarsi, and toes are brown. 
