THE KINGFISHER. 83 



apt to be an amount of tail-cocking and wing-drooping 

 going on, which argued matrimony in prospect, and hence 

 the tolerance of a stranger is explained. Where the bur- 

 row, in which their pinky white eggs are deposited in due 

 season, may be, I do not know ; but it is not surprising 

 that it should be some little distance off, for Kingfishers 

 often nest some distance away from water. The half- 

 fledged young are funny little things, for their feathers 

 grow to some length before bursting their sheaths, so that 

 the resulting appearance rather suggests a miniature por- 

 cupine. Moreover, they rival the Hibernian of fiction in 

 their ability to "advance backward," a useful accom- 

 plishment to dwellers in holes. They fledge off into 

 a plumage not much inferior in brilliance to that of 

 their parents, who, in their turn, each sport an azure 

 mantle and cinnamon breast, not being addicted to in- 

 vidious sexual distinctions in dress, though the hen alone 

 shows a red streak on the bill. But brilliant as is the 

 little Kingfisher, he is quite eclipsed by his larger relative, 

 the White-breasted species (Halcyon smyrnensis). This 

 bird is as big as a thrush and is most richly attired in sky- 

 blue and chocolate, set off by a white shirt-front and red 

 bill and feet. He is, in fact, quite the showiest bird we 

 have in Calcutta, and is more in evidence generally than 

 the small species, since he does not confine himself to water, 

 feeding on worms, grasshoppers, &c., as well as aquatic 

 prey. Indeed, he does not seem to be much of a fisher, 

 for when he does strike at something in the water, he 

 glides down slantingly and touches the surface in a very 

 half-hearted way, although when taking his bath he dashes 



