PELAEGOPSIS GUEIAL. 297 



and once near Mahabaleshwar, and Jerdon remarks that it is rarely seen in the Carnatic or the tableland. 

 It is common in Bengal, but has been met but rarely in tlie north-west. At the Sambhur Lake and in Sindh 

 it does not appear to be found. In the contrary direction, in Chota Nagpur, Mr. Ball says it is met with 

 occasionally, as also on the Rajmehal and Satpura hills. It is not uncommon about Calcutta, and 

 Dr. Hamilton observed that it bred in mud walls in that neighbourhood; it extends to the lower Himalayas. 

 In Burmah it is replaced by the paler race P. burmanlca, and even in Cachar Mr. Hume says the Stork-billed 

 Kingfisher belongs more to the latter than to the present species. 



Habits. — The Stork-billed Kingfisher always frequents the vicinity of water, and, as far as my experience 

 goes, feeds entirely on fish and frogs. It is solitary in habit and rather sluggish, taking up its post on the 

 branches of forest-trees overhanging water, or in the mangroves lining brackish lagoons, and at long 

 intervals plunges headlong down on its prey, splashing up the water in its descent. Every now and then it 

 gives out its loud discordant cries, and generally moves on to some other likely spot with a straight-on-end 

 and powerful flight. It is very early astir in the morning, awakening with its far-sounding laugh the 

 traveller who has halted for the night on the borders of the forest-lined river, or welcoming the sportsman 

 on the termination of his long and early morning drive to some lonely Snipe-ground. I have seen it, when 

 disturbed by gun-shots, take long flights across extensive paddy-fields, and after reaching a place of safety 

 shout vociferously for a quarter of an hour. When wounded it is capable of inflicting a severe blow with its 

 huge bill; and a Mr. Smith, in his MS. notes quoted by Dr. Horsfield, mentions an instance in which he 

 " once observed a contest between one of these birds and a Hawk of considerable size, in which the Hawk 

 was worsted and obliged to leave his hold, from the effects of a severe blow which the other administered 

 to him on the breast." Mr. Ball remarks that he has only once seen it plunge into water for the purpose 

 of capturing a fish. I have been more fortunate than this ; for I have seen it several times in the act of 

 seizing its prey ; but it certainly is a far less active fisher than other members of its family that have come 

 under my notice. Layard found this bird feeding on crabs and small Mollusca, as well as on fish. 



Nidification. — Breeds in secluded spots, excavating a deep hole in the side of a river-bank or in the 

 bund of a tank beneath shady trees. The nesting-time in Ceylon is during the first three or four months 

 in the year. Mr. Edward Creasey, Ceylon Survey Dept., found a nest in the Jaffna district which was 

 situated 7 feet from the entrance to the hole ; it contained two eggs, which were spherical in shape, pure 

 white, and measured 1*45 by 1'23 inch. Mr. Thompson found it breeding in May on the streams 

 debouching from the Himalayas, and speaks of a nest containing five young ones, near which there were 

 some deserted habitations, each having the appearance of having served its turn as a breeding-place in 

 former years. Another writer, Mr. Theobald, notes its laying in the fourth week in June. 



