NESTING-SERIES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 173 



Britain, where no breeding-station has as yet been found. It skims 

 the surface of the waves with rapid flight in search of surface-fish and 

 other floating food, and is also an expert diver. The single white egg 

 is deposited in a burrow on a few blades of dry grass. The nestling 

 remains in its home until long after it is fully fledged and, becoming 

 enormously fat, is greatly esteemed by some as an article of food. 



Isles of Scilly, June. 

 Presented by Edward Bidwell, Esq. 



No. 99. KINGFISHER. (Alcedo ispida.) 



This resident species is common along the banks of streams and 

 lakes and on many parts of the coast of England, but is less numerous f17 , 

 in Scotland and Ireland. It feeds on small fish, crustaceans, and insects, 

 the first-named being secured by a sudden plunge from some convenient 

 perch above the water. The nesting-place, which is a hole in the bank 

 two or three feet in length and terminating in a chamber, is generally 

 excavated by the birds. The entrance is usually situated above the 

 reach of floods, but occasionally a site is selected at some distance 

 from water. No nest is constructed, but in old nesting-chambers the 

 floor is covered with bones and scales of fish, which have been cast up 

 by the young of previous broods. The eggs vary in number from six 

 to nine and are rounded, white, and highly glossy. In the group 

 exhibited part of the bank has been removed to show the internal 

 construction of the burrow and four of the young eighteen days old, 

 which are still being fed by the parent-bird. The two young birds 

 perched outside the entrance also formed part of the brood, and were 

 respectively six and seven weeks old, and able to care for themselves. 



Suffolk, May. 

 Presented by T. Harcourt-Powell, Esq. 



No. 1OO. HOOPOE. (Upupa epops.) 



This handsome bird, common in many parts of Europe, Asia, and 

 North Africa, is a spring visitor to the southern and eastern parts of 

 England, where, if unmolested, it would breed regularly. It is, how- 

 ever, subjected to so much persecution on its arrival, that very few 

 pairs survive and are allowed to rear their young in peace. The slight 

 nest is placed in a hole in some decayed tree, frequently a willow or 

 ash, and from four to seven pale yellowish eggs are laid on the decaying 



