350 BRITISH BIRDS. 



The Belted Kingfisher rears its young in a hole, which is usually made 

 in the clayey banks of a stream or pond, near the bird's favourite fishing- 

 grounds. The hole always appears to be excavated by the birds, and much 

 time is spent over the task. Both birds perform the work, one relieving 

 the other, and burrowing incessantly until the hole is completed. Some-, 

 times the excavation is finished in a single night ; but if the bank is 

 not so suitable and readily tunnelled, a much longer time is taken. The 

 hole varies considerably in depth, sometimes being only four feet from the 

 opening to the nest-chamber, at others as much as fifteen feet. Some 

 holes are perfectly straight, whilst others turn from side to side, usually 

 when near the end. All the holes are enlarged at the end into a sort of 

 chamber, and in this the eggs are deposited. The balance of evidence 

 seems to be in favour of the fact that this bird does not build any nest ; 

 but earlier writers on American birds have stated that dry grass &c. is 

 placed in the nest-chamber. The Belted Kingfisher does not always nest 

 near water, and instances are on record where it has bred more than a 

 mile from it. It is very much attached to its favourite hole, and when 

 once a pair have selected a place for their nest, they are with difficulty 

 driven away from it, and will continue to use their hole even if their eggs 

 are taken from time to time. The eggs of the Belted Kingfisher, usually 

 laid in April or May, are generally six in number, rarely seven, and are, 

 when blown, pure and glossy white, and vary in length from T4 to 1*3 

 inch, and in breadth from 1*06 to 1*02 inch. Their size, of course, prevents 

 them from being confused with those of the Common Kingfisher ; but they 

 are indistinguishable from the eggs of the Pied Kingfisher and the Smyrna 

 Kingfisher, species found in South-east Europe and Asia. 



The Belted Kingfisher is devotedly attached to its young ; and Audubon 

 states that the female will drop into the water as if wounded, and flutter 

 along as if unable to rise from the surface, to lure an intruder away, and 

 that the male erects his crest and flies to and fro with angry cries when 

 the nest is menaced. The young birds remain in the nest-hole until fully 

 fledged, and are said, when able to fly, to roost in it at night, and to return 

 there in stormy weather for shelter. The young appear to be tended for 

 some little time after they leave the nest by their parents, who often feed 

 them ; but they are deserted before the time of migration arrives, when 

 they leave their parents and their birthplace for ever. In the northern 

 parts of its range only one brood appears to be brought up during the 

 year ; but in the south two are said to be reared. 



The Belted Kingfisher preys upon small fish, crabs, lizards, &c., whilst 

 its large size and powerful form allow it to cope successfully with mice. 

 All the hard and indigestible portions of its food are cast up in the shape 

 of pellets, and its nest-hole often contains a great number of them. In 

 that portion of its range where the winters are severe enough to freeze up 



