238 HALCYONIDJJ. 



and friable banks of watercourses, suited for the sylvan 

 retreat of his mate and brood, have also peculiar and 

 necessary attractions for our retiring Kingfisher. By the 

 broken, bushy, or rocky banks of his solitary and aquatic 

 retreat, he may often be seen perched on some dead and 

 projecting branch, scrutinising the waters below for his 

 expected prey ; if unsuccessful, he quickly courses the 

 meanders of the streams or borders of ponds, just above 

 their surface, and occasionally hovers for an instant, with 

 rapidly-moving wings, over the spot where he perceives 

 his gliding quarry ; in an instant descending with a quick 

 spiral sweep, he seizes a fish from the timid fry, with 

 which he rises to his post, and swallows it in an instant. 

 When startled from the perch, on which he spends many 

 vacant hours digesting his prey, he utters a loud, harsh, 

 grating cry, not unlike the noise of the watery tumult 

 amidst which he usually resides. 



" The nest, a work of much labour, is burrowed in 

 some dry and sandy, or more tenacious bank of earth, 

 situated beyond the reach of inundation. At this task, 

 both male and female join with bill and claws until they 

 have horizontally perforated the bank to the depth of five 

 or six feet. With necessary precaution, the entrance is 

 only left sufficient for the access of a single bird. The 

 extremity, however, is rounded like an oven, so as to allow 

 the individuals and their brood sufficient room. This im- 

 portant labour is indeed prospective, as the same hole is 

 employed both as nest and roost for many succeeding 

 years. Here, on a few twigs, grass, and feathers, about 

 six white eggs are deposited. Incubation, in which both 

 parents engage, continues for sixteen days ; and they ex- 

 hibit great solicitude for the safety of their brood. They 

 are very tenacious of their cell." 



Audubon states, " On one occasion, when I attempted 



