140 Wild Birds 



abode. From whatever point of view we regard this singular 

 note, it certainly carries well and is admirably adapted to 

 arouse the fish under water and the young bird under ground. 



When the wriggling fish nearly slipped from her grasp, the 

 bird would shift it about until her forceps had a firmer grip at a 

 point just back of its head. At every reel of the rattle, each of 

 which seemed more shrill and more impatient than the last, she 

 would start as if to go to her nest a few yards away. Occa- 

 sionally a peculiar creaking sound escaped her, suggesting the 

 grating of dead limbs when swayed by the wind. Suddenly 

 with rattle in shrillest crescendo she bolted straight into the 

 hole, delivered the fish, remained for half a minute, then came 

 out backwards, turning in the air as she dropped from the en- 

 trance, and with a parting rattle was off to the river. During 

 these visits the Kingfishers usually remained but a quarter or 

 half a minute in the tunnel, and always came out backwards, 

 except on one occasion when I saw the bird turn near the en- 

 trance, and shoot out head first. The longest visit recorded 

 lasted three and a half minutes. When a youngster was en- 

 countered near the mouth of the tunnel he was driven back to 

 the chamber, where the food was distributed. Once only did 

 I see an old bird pause at the entrance for a hasty glance back- 

 ward, and thus give a good profile view of head with fish in 

 bill. Unfortunately the plate had already been exposed, and 

 before it could be changed the opportunity was lost. The old 

 birds, however, must have often turned about at the entrance 

 on both entering and leaving the hole, as shown by the deep 

 furrows plowed by the bill at either side of the opening. 



When the young are ten days old, the feather-tubes have 

 begun to burst at the tips, and their horny substance is gradually 

 shed in the form of powdery scales. The feathers grow slowly, 

 but at the age of two weeks the characteristic colors of the adult 

 are becoming apparent, the slaty -blue of the upper parts, and 

 the white of the breast which is -traversed by a bluish-brown 

 belt, with rusty brown along the sides. As they rattle when 

 taken from the nest their whole body quavers. They will hiss, 

 bite one another, huddle together, and erect their crests of long 



