1 



SPOTTED KINGFISHER.— Cfryte gtittdttt. 



of four or five feet, employing both beak and claws iu tbe work. The nest is of a veiy 

 simple nature, being composed of a few small twigs and feathers, ou which are laid 

 the four or five pure white eggs. The birds seem to be much attached to their homes, and 

 the same pair will frequent the same hole for many successive years, and rear many broods 

 within the same habitation. The extremity of the burrow where the eggs are placed is 

 always rather larger than the tunnel itself, and is expanded into a globular chamlier for the 

 purpose of afforiling a sufficiency of space for the parents and their young. It is said 

 that when a supposed enemy approaches the nest, the parent birds employ various artifices 

 to draw his attention away from the sacred spot, and liy fluttering about as if wounded or 

 disabled, will often succeed in their endeavours. When the young are hatched, the 

 parents are remarkably attentive to them, as might be supposed from the reckless manner 

 in which they expose themselves to danger for the sake of their offspring. 



The colouring of this spirited little bird is rather complicated and not very easy of 

 description. The head is furnished with a crest of long pointed feathers, which can be 

 raised or depressed at will, and the whole upper surface of the body is light blue, marked 

 with a great number of narrow dark streaks caused l)y the black-blue shaft of each 

 feather. The wings are blackish-brown, bound with white uj^^)'! the primaries, and 

 diversified with blue upon the exterior web of the secondaries. The sides are covered 

 with blue mott lings, a belt of the same bright hue crosses the chest, and a broad white 

 band encircles the neck, throat, and chin. The tail is black-brown barred with white, 

 with the exception of the two central feathers, which are blue. The length of this bird is 

 about one foot. 



