448 THE KINGFISHER 



at the end, and rises slightly. It is sometimes used for some years in succession, 

 and is apparently the work of both sexes as a rule, though it is said to be occasion- 

 ally only adapted by them for nesting purposes. (PI. xxxv.) The eggs are laid at 

 first on the bare earth, or on a few fish bones, but these accumulate while incubation 

 progresses. The eggs are usually 6 or 7 in number, less commonly 8, or, it is said, 

 even 9-10 in number. They are round in shape, extremely glossy, and pure white 

 in colour. Average size of 100 eggs, -89 x '73 in. [22'6 x 18'6 mm.]. Incubation, 

 which is said to last 14-16 days, is performed by the hen alone according to 

 Naumann, during which time she is fed by the male. Mr. H. S. Gladstone has 

 observed different stages of development in birds in the same nest (Birds of 

 Dumfriesshire, p. 165). The normal breeding season is during the latter part of 

 April, but occasionally the eggs are laid much earlier, probably in the case of old 

 birds with a burrow already made. Saunders states that the young have been 

 known to be out of the nest by llth March, an extraordinarily early date ; and 

 on one occasion I met with fresh eggs on 31st March in Derbyshire. A second 

 brood is often reared late in June or early in July. [F. c. R. J.] 



5. Food. Fish and fish-fry, aquatic insects, shrimps, and occasionally slugs, 

 snails, and leeches, [w. p. p.] 



The following is described in the supplementary chapter on " Rare Birds " : 

 The Belted-kingfisher, Ceryle alcyon (Linnaeus). 



