X. 



ALCEDO ISriDA. (linn.) 

 Kingfisher. 



This splendid bird breeds sparingly in the sand banks of 

 many of our rivers, in a hole at the depth of two or three feet, 

 in which it lays six or seven eggs, sometimes upon a collection 

 of small fish bones, but I think more commonly on the bare 

 sand. From the many absurd and exaggerated accounts given 

 of the nest of this bird, Colonel Montague was induced to 

 pay particular attention to its habits, and gives the following 

 very accurate and interesting particulars, perfectly agreeing 

 with my own observations : — " The hole chosen to breed in 

 is always ascending ; at the end is scooped a hollow, at the 

 bottom of which is a quantity of small fish bones, nearly half 

 an inch thick, mixed in with the earth. This is undoubtedly 

 the castings of the parent birds, and not the young, for we 

 have found it even before they have eggs. The hole in which 

 they breed is by no means fouled by the castings ; but before 

 the young are able to fly, it becomes extremely foetid by the 

 faeces of the brood, which is of a watery nature, and cannot 

 be carried away by the parent birds, as is common with most 

 of the smaller species ; in defect of which, instinct has taught 

 them to have the entrance to their habitation ascending, by 

 which means the filthy matter runs off, and may frequently 

 be seen on the outside.^' 



MEROPS APIASTER. (linn.) 

 Bee-Eater. 



The Bee-Eater is only an occasional visiter of this island, 

 but breeds on various parts of the Continent, in holes in the 



