THE KINGFISHER. 165 



it is well to put a clod of turf, or some green branches in the 

 corner of the aviary, or, perhaps, better still, to keep the bird in 

 a large cage well provided with perches. 



Food. In a wild state the Kingfisher feeds on small fishes, 

 leeches, and various water insects. 



When confined it may be fed with fishes, leeches, and earth- 

 worms, till it becomes gradually accustomed to meat. King- 

 fishers, when taken old, can very rarely be preserved, though I 

 have seen one of this description, which was fed upon dead fish. 

 The fish were thrown in a vessel of considerable size as the 

 bird overturned all smaller ones which was placed in his 

 cage. He did not dart upon them from his perch, but bent 

 down gradually till he could reach the vessel with his bill. 

 Old birds, when first kept, will not eat while any one is look- 

 ing on. 



Breeding. The nest, which is made of roots, and lined with 

 a few feathers, is placed in a hole at the water's edge. The 

 eggs are white, and usually eight in number. Before the 

 young birds can see clearly, they are covered all over with 

 little quills, so as to resemble a hedge-hog. The time to take 

 them out of the nest, is before the feathers begin to grow ; and 

 they are to be fed on meat, ants' eggs, meal and earth-worms, 

 till at last they become accustomed to meat alone. They live 

 longer if their food be given to them in a vessel full of water. 



Mode of Taking. They may be caught by affixing a noose to 

 a post, on the spot which they are observed to frequent, and 

 which is generally where the water makes a sort of whirlpool. 

 Limed twigs also often succeed, if they do not immediately 

 overhang the water, into which they might, in that case, drag 

 the bird. 



Attractive Qualities. The beauty and the rarity of this bird 

 constitute its chief recommendation to the amateur. It must 

 be confessed that it is an awkward and obstinate inmate of the 

 aviary. 



ADDITIONAL. Of the Halcyons, or Kingfishers, there are but 

 two species known as British birds, the one being only a strag- 

 gling visitant, and the other that above described by BECHSTEIN, 

 a permanent resident, although by no means a common bird. 

 " It is," says MUDIE, " an inhabitant of holes or burrows on the 

 banks of streams, lives by fishing, and spends much of its time 

 in the air near the waters, or perched on the bushes along the 



