THE KINGFISHER. 



345 





accomplish, owing to the extreme wariness of the bird from repeated persecution. The presence of the 

 Kingfisher in one's neighbourhood can be detected from some distance by the faint cry which falls upon 

 the ear from afar. This note, which is a shrill, but not unmusical, scream, generally consists of two 

 syllables, but is very difficult to render in language. Naumann gives it as ti-ti, which is by no means 

 a bad representation of the cry; and these syllables are quickly repeated as the bird leaves its perch 

 and skims over the stream. The flight is rapid and very direct, the bird speeding like a bullet a little 

 height above the surface of the water. When suddenly disturbed, it utters its cry shortly after leaving 

 its perch, and then flies for some distance in silence ; but when passing unmolested from one resting- 

 place to another, its shrill note may be heard at frequent intervals. Just before perching, the cry is 

 uttered three or four times suc- 

 cessively ti-ti-ti. When resting, 

 it sits uprightly, with the glance 

 directed downwards, motionlessly 

 scanning the stream beneath, in- 

 tent on the capture of any fish 

 or water insect which may come 

 within its reach. Its unerring 

 dive seldom proves fruitless ; and 

 when secured, a few smart raps 

 on its perch, to which the bird 

 always returns, deprive the victim 

 of life, after which it is imme- 

 diately swallowed. Except in the 

 eai-ly morning, it seldom chooses 

 a very open position for its rest- 

 ing-place ; but in the autumn, 

 when the migration is in progress, 

 at break of day it is not unusual 

 to see two, or even three, birds 

 in company on a rail or on the 

 side of a punt ; in the day-time, 

 however, it loves solitude, and 

 seldom more than one can be seen 

 at once, and then it affects more 

 shady and secluded haunts. In 

 general it is a lonely bird, jealous 

 of intrusion, especially from in- 

 dividuals of its own species. Each 

 pair appears to choose and main- 

 tain a particular hunting-ground, 



and should one Kingfisher enter upon the domain of another, it is speedily and effectually ousted by 

 the rightful owner with cries of rage. So fierce is the animosity displayed by these birds, that when 

 excited in combat they fly heedless of obstacles, and thus occasionally meet their death in their 

 headlong career." An instance is on record of two Kingfishers flying with such violence against a 

 Avindow that both pursuer and ptirsued met their death on the spot. The present species does not 

 always pounce on its prey from a perch, but will occasionally fly out over the mid-stream, and hover 

 in the air like a Kestrel Hawk ; and after making an unsuccessful plunge, will repeat its hovering 

 position over the same spot, until its efforts are rewarded with success. It has been seen also to 

 dash into the water several times in succession, Avhich movement has been supposed to be for the 

 purpose of attracting fish to the spot by disturbing the water ; it is, however, more probable that in 

 this exercise the bird is taking a bath. The young have exactly the same cry as their parents, but 

 the note is less shrill. On leaving the nest, they often congregate in some well-shaded locality by the 

 side of the stream, where food is brought to them by their parents, and the presence of the nestlings 



COMMON KINGFISHER. 



