BELTED KIXGFISIIElt. 19 



This species is by some thought good eating, and is 

 accordingly exposed for sale in the markets. 



Two of these birds have been killed in an evidently wild 

 condition, in Ireland, so that, acting on the principles ex- 

 pressed in the introduction to this work, I unhesitatingly 

 give the present species a place in the 'British Birds.' One 

 was shot at Annesbrook, in the county of Meath, on the 

 26th. of October, 1845, by Frederick A. Smith, Esq.; and 

 another, on a stream connecting the Lake of Luggela with 

 Lough Dan, by the gamekeeper of Latouche, Esq., of 

 Luggela, within the same month. 



It migrates to the south in the winter, and returns to 

 the north in the summer to breed. 



The flight of this bird resembles that of its kinsman of 

 the old world. It courses along the windings of the brook 

 or river, sometimes suspending itself over its prey, and at 

 other times settling on a branch to reconnoitre. 



The note is loud, harsh, and sudden, and is described as 

 resembling the sound produced by the twirling of a watchman's 

 rattle. 



The nest, composed of a few feathers, and a little grass, 

 is placed in a hole in the steep bank of a river, the excavation 

 of the bird itself by means of its bill and claws, to the depth 

 of one or two feet. The same situation is tenaciously re- 

 visited from year to year. 



The eggs are five in number, and the bird has been known 

 to go on laying, some' of them having been from time to 

 time removed, to the number of eighteen. The female sits in 

 April. There seems to be two broods; of which, the first 

 is hatched the end of May, or beginning of June. 



Male; length, twelve inches and a half; bill, black horn- 

 colour at the tip, and at the base of the lower part; iris, 

 yellow; before it is a small white dot, and an elongated one 

 beneath it; a crest of elongated feathers surmounts the head; 

 the shafts black, as are those of the feathers of all the 

 plumage except the white parts. The neck is surrounded by 

 a collar of white; breast, white, variegated with the blue 

 colour at the sides; on the upper part of the breast is a 

 blue band, interspersed with some light brown feathers, and 

 its edges are jagged, especially on the lower side, and most 

 so in the middle; back, light bluish slate-colour. The wings 

 expand to the width of one foot eight inches; greater and 

 lesser wing coverts, slate blue, spotted with white; primaries, 



