92 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



Habits. A most graceful and pretty bird, quick and 

 agile in its actions, running quickly, and flying in an 

 undulatory manner. Perches in trees more readily than 

 its congeners. 



Food. Insects and their larvae largely ; spiders, 

 centipedes, molluscs and Crustacea ; also seeds. 



Nest. April onwards. Two broods. 



Site. On the ground in thick tuft of grass, under bush 

 or rock, in wheel-rut, choked ditch, &c. Always near 

 water. 



Materials. Grass, roots, and moss, lined with wool 

 and hair. 



Eggs. Five to six. Creamy white, closely mottled 

 and clouded with pale brown, like Yellow Wagtail's, but 

 rather larger. Sometimes marked with dark hair-like 

 lines. 



KINGFISHER (Alcedo ispida). 



Generally distributed in Great Britain, in suitable 

 localities ; rarer in the extreme North. 



Haunts. Rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and sheets of 

 water. 



Plumage. Crown and nape bluish black, barred with 

 emerald-green and cobalt. Back, rump, and upper 

 tail-coverts azure-blue. Tail indigo-bhie. Wings bluish 

 green, spotted with azure-blue. Lores and ear-coverts 

 chestnut ; buffish white patch at sides of neck. Throat 

 white ; under parts dull orange-red. Tail short. Bill 

 black, orange at the base, and long. Legs reddish brown. 

 Length y\ in. Female, duller and greener. Young, 

 paler and browner, and bill black. 



Language. A shrill piping " kee " uttered on the wing. 



Habits. It loves to perch on a branch overhanging a 

 stream, intently watching for its finny prey ; then sudden- 

 ly it plunges into the water and catches it, returning 

 to its perch to swallow it, head first. Flight swift and 

 direct. In disposition shy and retiring. 



