BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



199 



a sight of parent bird only can settle identity. 

 (See Plate VI.) 



Time. April and May. 



Remarks. Migratory, although a good many 

 specimens remain through the winter in the 

 southern and midland parts of England. Note: a 

 chattering kind of scream. Local and other names : 

 Windhover, Staengall, Stannel Hawk, Stannel 

 Hoverhawk, Stonegall, Creshawk, Standgale. Not 

 a very close sitter, according to my experience, 

 although some authorities say it is. 



KINGFISHER. 



(Alcedo ispida.) 

 Order PICARLE ; Family ALCEDINIM: (KINGFISHERS). 



Description of Parent Birds. 

 Length about seven inches. 

 Bill long, strong, straight, and 

 black except at the base of 

 the under mandible, where 

 it is orange. Irides hazel. 

 Crown, nape, back, wings, 

 rump, upper tail-coverts, and 

 tail dark, greenish-blue ; the 

 head and neck are barred 

 with brilliant azure blue. 

 The wing-coverts are spotted 

 with the same colour, which 

 is prominent on the middle of the back, rump, 

 and upper tail-coverts. Wing-quills dull greenish- 

 black, greenish-blue on the outer webs, and red- 

 dish-brown on the outside edges of the inner, 

 except at .the tips, which are dull black. From 



YOUNG KINGFISHER. 



