HALCYONIDsE. 53 



occasionally robbed by some ardent collector, and it 

 is to be feared the birds will eventually desert this, 

 locality for some more peaceful abode. 



I have always observed that a perceptible decrease, 

 in their numbers takes place during the winter 

 months, when a migration most probably ensues, and 

 they again return to their old haunts in spring. 



Mr. Frank Collins tells me that one day, in the 

 beginning of November 1867, while taking a stroll 

 along the banks of a little stream near Wantage, he 

 saw a remarkably fine Kingfisher lying dead upon the 

 surface of the water. He fished it out, and was sur- 

 prised to find that the bird had been choked by a 

 fish which it had partly gorged. 



The Kingfisher does not often approach the dwell- 

 ings of man, but the Rev. E. Hale informed me that 

 he has seen this bird in his garden in Eton ; and at 

 page 267 of the fourth volume of Loudon's ' Magazine 

 of Natural History/ Mr. James G. Tatem observes 

 that the Kingfisher has been seen frequently flying 

 up and down a small stream which is not 150 yards 

 from the main street of Wycombe. 



