THE BELTED KINGFISHER. 



457 



actual proposal, where both vociferate in wooden concert to a distracted 

 world. But la! love is niiglity and doth niigiitily prevail. 



The nesting tunnel is driven laterally into the face of a steep bank, 

 preferably of sand or loam, usually directly over the water, but occasion- 

 ally at a considerable distance from it. Dr. Brewer reports one in a 

 gravel pit at least a mile from water. The birds are not so particular 

 as are the Bank Swallows about digging near tl:e toj) of the i>ank, but, 

 especially if the bank is small, usually 

 select a point about midway. The 

 tunnel goes straight in or turns siiarp- 

 ly to suit an occasional whim, until a 

 convenient depth, say five or si.x feet, 

 is reached, when a considerable en- 

 largement is made for the nest cham- 

 ber. Here, early in May, six or seven 

 white eggs are laid, usually upon the 

 bare earth, but sometimes upon a lin- 

 ing of grass, straw and trash. From 

 time to time the birds eject pellets 

 containing fish scales, the broken 

 testje of crawfish and other indi- 

 gestible substances and these rue 

 added to the accumulating nest ma- 

 terial. Sanitary regulations are not 

 very strict in Kingfisher's home, an 

 by the time the young are ready to 

 fly we could not blame them for be- 

 ing glad to get away. The female is 

 a proverbially close sitter, often ])er- 

 mitting herself to be taken with tJie 

 hand, but not until after she lias 

 made a vigorous defense witli Jicr 

 sharp beak. If a stick be introduced 

 into the nest she will sometimes 

 .seize it so tightly that she can he lifted from the eggs, turtle fashion. 



The parents are very ])usy birds :ifter the young have broken shell, 

 and it takes many a quintal of lisli to pre])are six, or maybe seven, lusty 

 fislier princes for llie battle of life. At this season the birds hunt and 

 wait upon their young ])rincipally at night, in order not to attract hostile 

 attention to them by daylight visits. Only one l)rood is raised in a 

 season, and since fishing is unquestionably a fine art. the youngsters 

 require constant supervision and instruction for several months. A troop 



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