I02 



Handbook of Nature-Study 



insects and other creatures are often eaten with reHsh. It is interesting 

 to note the process by which the young kingfisher gets its skill in fishing. 

 I have often seen one dive horizontally for a yard or two beneath the 

 water and come up indignant and sputtering because the fish had escaped. 

 It was fully two weeks after this before this one learned to drop like a 

 bullet on its quarry. 



The note of the kingfisher is a loud rattle, not especially pleasant close 

 at hand, but not unmusical at a little distance. It is a curious coinci- 

 dence that it sounds very much like the clicking of the fisherman's reel; 

 it is a sound that conjures visions of shade-dappled streams and the danc- 

 ing, blue waters of tree-fringed lakes and ponds. 



There seems to be a division of fishing ground among the kingfishers, 

 one bird never trespassing upon its neighbor's preserves. Unless it be 

 the parent pair working near each other for the nestlings, or the nestlings 

 still under their care, we never see two kingfishers in the same immediate 

 locality. 



References — The Bird, p. 97; The Bird Book, pp. 154, 444. 



The belted kingfisher. 



Drawing by L. A. Fuertes. 



LESSON XXIV 



The Kingfisher 



Leading thought — The kingfisher is fitted by 

 form of body and beak to be a fisherman. 



Methods — If the school be near a stream or 

 pond the following observations may be made 

 by the pupils; otherwise let the boys who go 

 fishing make a study of the bird and report to 

 the school. 



Observations — i. Where have you seen 

 the kingfisher? Have you often seen it on a 

 certain branch which is its favorite perch ? Is 

 this perch near the water? What is the 

 advantage of this position to the bird ? 



2. What does the kingfisher feed upon? 

 How does it obtain its food? Describe the 

 actions of one of these birds while fishing. 



3. With w^iat weapon does the kingfisher secure the fish? How long 

 is its beak compared with the rest of its body? How does it kill the fish? 

 Does it swallow the fish head or tail first? Why? Does it tear off the 

 scales or fins before swallowing it? How does it get rid of these and the 

 bones of the fish? 



4. Which is the larger, the kingfisher or the robin? Describe the 

 difference in shape of the bodies of these two birds; also in the size and 

 shape of feet and beaks and explain why they are so different in form. 

 What is there peculiar about the kingfisher's feet? Do you know which 

 two toes are grown together? 



5. What are the colors of the kingfisher in general? The colors of 

 head, sides of head, collar, back, tail, wings, throat, breast and under 

 parts ? Is there a white spot near the eye ? If so, where ? Do you know 

 the difference in colors between the parent birds? 



6. Where is the nest built? How is it lined? 



