WATER FOWL. 435 



dicate falsehood by showing that a part of the 

 story is true. 



The king-fisher with which we are acquainted 

 at present, has none of those powers of allaying 

 the storm, or building upon the waves ; it is con- 

 tented to make its nest on the banks of rivers, in 

 such situations as not to be affected by the rising 

 of the stream. When it has found a place for its 

 purpose, it hollows out with its bill a hole about 

 a yard deep ; or if it finds the deserted hole of a 

 rat, or one caused by the root of a tree decaying, 

 it takes quiet possession. This hole it enlarges 

 at the bottom to a good size ; and lining it with 

 the down of the willow, lays its eggs there with- 

 out any further preparation. 



Its nest, or rather hole, is very different from 

 that described by the ancients, by whom it is 

 said to be made in the shape of a long-necked 

 gourd of the bones of the sea-needle. The bones, 

 indeed, are found there in great quantities, as 

 well as the scales of fishes ; but these are the re- 

 mains of the bird's food, and by no means brought 

 there for the purposes of warmth or convenience. 

 The king-fisher, as Bellonius says, feeds upon fish, 

 but is incapable of digesting the bones and scales, 

 which he throws up again, as eagles and owls are 

 seen to do a part of their prey. These fill the 

 bird's nest of course ; and although they seem as 

 if designedly placed there, are only a kind of nui- 

 sance. 



In these holes, which, from the remains of fish 

 brought there, are very fetid, the king-fisher is 

 often found with from five eggs to nine. There 



