THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



be found during April, May, and June. Its nest is seldom 

 far from the waterside, and is made usually in a hole in 

 the bank. In some cases this is dug out by the old birds, 

 in others a disused rat-hole is utilised. At a distance often 

 of several feet, in a small chamber, and on fish-bones and 

 other food refuse, the hen lays from six to ten polished 

 white eggs. The young are tended for some time after 

 they leave the nest, but finally disappear from the 

 locality. 



The adult Kingfisher has the general colour of the 

 upper parts, including the cheeks, emerald-green, the back 

 and upper tail-coverts cobalt-blue, the head, cheeks, and 

 wing-coverts spotted profusely with the latter colour ; 

 the under parts are bright chestnut, shading into buffish 

 white on the throat ; the sides of the neck below the 

 crest are buffish white. Bill black ; tarsi and toes red ; 

 irides dark brown. Length 73- inches. The nestling 

 resembles the parents in general colour, but the under 

 parts are browner and marked with greenish grey ; the 

 bill, tarsi, and toes are brown. 



248 



