294 ALCEDO BENGALENSIS. 



tail, and darts with an unerring aim on the tiny inhabitants of the pool. It is bold and regardless of man to 

 a degree, not hesitating to seize a fish close to a bystander ; and, indeed, I have more than once seen it take 

 up its quarters over my head while camped on the sandy bed of a forest river, and dash over and over again 

 into the water at my feet. It is possessed of the keenest sight, pouncing often on its prey from a very 

 considerable height above the water. It usually lives in pairs, which dwell together on terms of the greatest 

 sociability ; on one joining its companion the two become quite garrulous for some minutes, uttering in 

 consort their clear piercing little whistle, accompanied by a vigorous bobbing up and down of heads and 

 sundry spasmodic up-jerkings of their tails. The flight of this species is very swift ; it flashes past like an 

 arrow, its blue plumage gleaming against the sombre green of the forest, and its clear note often rousing the 

 tired sportsman from his reverie. I have more than once observed it hovering for an instant close to the 

 water, it having suddenly checked itself in its flight, perhaps to observe some fish too deep at the moment to 

 pounce upon. Swinhoe notes the same habit, remarking that it is done close to the surface of the water and 

 not high up after the manner of the last species. Concerning this little bird's temerity in seizing fish, there 

 is an interesting note in ' Stray Feathers/ 1873, by Mr. II. J. Rainey, which shows likewise the occasional 

 rapacity of the Brahminy Kite. This gentleman writes: — "1 observed a Brahminy Kite make a rather 

 leisurely swoop at a fish swimming on the surface of the stream ; but when almost within its grasp a King- 

 fisher (A. bengulensis) , which had darted down swiftly, carried off the prey. This appears to have infuriated 

 the Kite, and it immediately followed in hot pursuit of the Kingfisher, and after a long and ' stern ' chase, 

 it eventually succeeded in seizing its unresisting quarry ; holding the screeching bird securely in its talons it 

 bore it to the shore, and after complacently plucking the feathers of its (then still living) victim it set about 

 devouring its flesh with evident satisfaction. On my approaching the spot, soon after the Kite had commenced 

 its savage repast, it flew away, leaving little else than a few bare bones of the Kingfisher " (and, as 

 / should have added, me vowing vengeance against the whole race of Brahmiuies) . Layard speaks of this 

 little Kingfisher being caught in Ceylon by Moormen, who export the skins to China, where they are used 

 for embellishing fans. This trade does not seem to be carried on now. 



Niflification. — In South, West, and Central Ceylon the breeding-season of this species is from February 

 until June ; but in the north I have known it to nest in November. It excavates a hole about 2 feet 6 inches 

 or 3 feet deep in the soft or upper earth of a stream or river-bank, or, in fact, in any situation where such 

 soil exists, for I have found its nest in the sides of the cavities excavated by coolies in making roads and 

 Ear away from any water. At the end of the hole the little miners scoop a cavity about 6 inches in diameter 

 and deposit frequently a layer of small fish-bones on the earth, on which the eggs are laid. In this its habits 

 are one with those of its European representative. The eggs are said in India to be usually five to seven in 

 number ; three are, however, sometimes laid, as Dr. Iloldcn writes me of finding a nest with three young 

 in Hewahettc. They are very round and glossy, and pinky white when unblown, averaging 0'8 by 068 inch. 

 One specimen brought to me as the egg of this species, from Baddcgama, measured 0'81 by 076mch. 



