98 BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR EGGS AND NESTS.. 
found such a nest at all, was a marvel tome. The eggs are 
very small for the size of the bird which produces them, and 
strongly resemble some of the darker and more closely freckled 
specimens of the House Sparrow’s egg, but are rather larger 
-in size; while Mr. Doubleday says some of them resemble those 
of the Pied Wagtail—ig. 19, plate 1V. 
135. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO—(Coccyzus Americanus). 
A rare visitor only. 
GROUP IV. FISSIROSYRES. 
FAMILY l—MEROPIDA. 
136. ROLLER—(Coracius garrula). 
Garrulous Roller.—Very rarely met with in England. 
137. BEE-EATER—(Werops apiaster). 
An African bird, which strays occasionally so far to the north 
as to reach Britain, and be claimed as a British Bird. 
IT.—_HALCYONID 2. 
188. KINGFISHER—(Alcedo ispida). 
Beyond doubt, as far as exceeding brilliancy of plumage goes, 
‘the most beautiful of our indigenous birds. I have never seen it 
in any part of the kingdom a numerous bird, though in my fish- 
ing and other excursions in Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, and Here- 
fordshire, I used to see many pairs ; each, however, domiciled at 
some distance from its nearest neighbours. In the district of 
North Yorkshire I am best acquainted with I have never seen it. 
Its straight, arrow-like, speeding flight is sure to be remembered, 
when once seen, and so is the odour inseparable from its nest- 
hole or other stated haunt. A hole, sloping upwards, in the 
bank of the water it most frequents, whether pond, stream, 
