276 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



and in consequence of this, before they leave the 

 nest, there is a considerable accumulation of bones, 

 which get piled up round the young birds, and 

 present the appearance of a regularly built nest. 

 How this may be I must leave to some one who 

 lives in a place more frequented by these birds to 

 settle. I can, however, bear witness to the fact of 

 the "very ancient and fish-like smell" which per- 

 vades the hole before the young birds leave their 

 home. 



Kingfishers become tolerably tame, and may be 

 kept in confinement, especially if placed in an aviarjr 

 where fresh water can be introduced, in which a 

 sufficient supply of minnows and other small fish 

 can be kept, as is done at the Zoological Gardens in 

 London. 



It is almost impossible, either by painting or by a 

 written description, to give any adequate idea of the 

 brilliancy of the plumage of this bird. The beak, 

 which is very long and large for the size of the bird, 

 is nearly black, except the base of the lower man- 

 dible, which is orange ; the irides are red ; the lore 

 dusky ; the top of the head dark blue, ribbed with 

 bright light blue (all the blue in the Kingfisher 

 varies, according to the light in which the bird is 

 seen, from blue to green); there is a small patch 

 above, and a long one under, the eye, reaching to 

 the ear-coverts, of bright bay; the ear-coverts are 

 white, some of the feathers are slightly tinged at the 



