THE KINGFISHER. 123 



composed of the bones of: the fish captured by the birds. 

 Some naturalists have said that these bones are " cast " 

 up by the birds, and that the nest is made upon this 

 accumulation. It is generally well hidden, and, ex- 

 cept for the rats, the Kingfisher, being so beautiful, need 

 fear few foes ; it was, however, a favourite ' ' sport " of 

 some possessed of a gun, some years ago, to kill these 

 beautiful birds ; and as they fly straight they are easily 

 marked. Yet there are few things more interesting than 

 to watch one of them whilst fishing. Many an Oxford 

 man has seen these birds along the Cherwell, skimming 

 the water under Magdalen Bridge, or, having drifted 

 noiselessly in his boat with the stream, has seen them 

 seated upon an overhanging bough, watching the water 

 with anxious eye until the long-wished-for prey appears. 

 The Kingfisher then darts down, even swifter than a gull, 

 secures its prey, and by its buoyancy regains the use of 

 its wings, and flies off with the prize to its nest, if it 

 be possessed of one, otherwise returning to its " post of 

 vantage." 



The general abode of the Kingfisher is near rivers, lakes, 

 streams, brooks, ponds, and ditches, or indeed wherever 

 food may be found. This food consists principally of small 

 fish, such as minnows, sticklebacks, or any such-like smaller 

 species of fish, water-beetles, and leeches. These are taken 

 with the beak ; and the object aimed at is seldom missed. 



They are very pugnacious, and, consequently, lead a 

 solitary life. Their pugnacity may be one of the reasons of 

 their partial migration, which takes place often from one 

 district to another ; want of food, however, is doubtless the 

 prime reason, more particularly in winter, when they have to 

 find an unfrozen stream. They will, however, during frosts 



