KINGFISHER 129 



water and watches until a fish passes below, when 

 down he plunges after him, often going entirely under, 

 but instantly emerging with the fish in his bill. Fly- 

 ing to a perch near by he shakes himself, beats the 

 fish against a branch until it is dead, then swallows it 

 whole. 



Each pair of Kingfishers is said to have its own 

 fishing grounds and not to trespass on a neighbor's 

 preserves. They always fish up stream and when 

 they come to the end of their route make a wide 

 detour back to the starting place, sweeping in with 

 the loud, rattling cry which is their characteristic call. 



The nest is in a hole in a high bank of the stream 

 and is .at the end of a long burrow, five or six feet 

 from the entrance. A half dozen pure white eggs are 

 laid. 



