KINGFISHER. 229 



THE well-known Kingfisher is one of the most beautiful 

 of our British birds, and will bear a comparison with many 

 of those which are brought from climates considered more 

 favourable to the production of brilliant colours. It is 

 also generally distributed, though it can scarcely be said to 

 be very numerous anywhere. It frequents the banks of 

 streams of various sizes, whether rivers or brooks, some- 

 times inhabiting the vicinity of fish-ponds ; and the bird is 

 most frequently seen when flying rapidly along near the 

 surface of the water. Its food consists of water-beetles, 

 leeches, minnows, stickle-backs, and probably any other 

 species of small fish which it can seize upon by surprise. 

 For this purpose the Kingfisher takes a station near the 

 water, sitting on the branch of a bush or tree overhanging 

 the stream, or on a rail by the water side, from whence it 

 darts instantaneously upon any passing prey, and will occa- 

 sionally suspend itself on the wing, hovering and watching 

 for a favourable opportunity to make the plunge which is 

 to secure its victim. The prey is always taken with the 

 beak; and so unerring is the aim, that the bird seldom 

 fails to gain the fish it strikes at, which when thus cap- 

 tured is brought to the usual waiting-place, and after some 

 mutilation to produce death, is invariably swallowed head 

 foremost. 



The Kingfisher is solitary in its habits, and pugnacious 

 in disposition, seldom to be seen with any associate except 

 its mate during the breeding season. At this period a pair 

 take possession of a hole already formed by some burrow- 

 ing animal, in the bank by the water side, and often but 

 little elevated above the surface of the stream ; sometimes 

 the Kingfisher will take to a cavity among the exposed 

 roots of an aged tree on the river bank ; they have been 

 known to take possession of a hole in a bank frequented by 

 Sand Martins at a distance from water; and Mr. Jesse 



