280 KINGFISHER. 
—where, from its habit of congregating on the ice round any open 
water, it is known by the name of ‘ Eisvogel ’—it is uncommon ; but 
southward it is found in suitable localities throughout Europe down 
to the Mediterranean. It breeds near Gibraltar, and is said to do 
so in Morocco and Algeria; while it visits Egypt in winter, and 
occurs in the Canaries and Madeira. Variations from the type are 
noticed between Asia Minor and South-western Siberia, while those 
from further south, as far as the Malay Archipelago, have been 
called A. dengalensis ; but the differences are very trifling. 
For a nesting-place a hole in a bank is either bored or selected ; 
generally near water, but sometimes in a dry sand-pit, and occasion- 
ally in some crevice in a wall. It usually slopes upward from the 
entrance, and at the end, upon the bare earth or upon a layer of 
small fish bones, the roundish glossy-white eggs, 6-8 but sometimes 
ro in number, are deposited: measurements ‘9 by ‘75 in. The 
young are known to have been out of the nest by March 11th, and 
they have been found inside as late as July 24th, so that two 
broods are produced in some seasons. The food consists of small 
crustaceans, insects (such as dragon-flies and water-beetles), minnows, 
sticklebacks, and the small fry of other fishes; the quantity con- 
sumed being extraordinary. In autumn the young are driven by 
the parents from the nesting-place and become partially migratory. 
The note is a shrill ¢¢, “¢, “4, somewhat like that of the Common 
Sandpiper. The legends and superstitions relating to this bird are 
too numerous for mention here. 
The adult male has the lower cheek-stripe, head and wings dark 
greenish-blue, slightly mottled ; lores and ear-coverts chestnut ; back 
cobalt-blue ; tail dark blue ; throat white ; under parts chestnut ; bill 
black, orange at the base; feet reddish-brown. Length 7°5; wing 
3 in. The female is slightly greener and duller; the young bird 
further differs in having a wholly black bill. 
Two examples of the North-American Belted Kingfisher, Ceryle 
alcyon, are, respectively, in the Museum of Science and Art, and in 
Trinity College, Dublin. One of these is said to have been shot in 
co. Meath on October 26th 1845, and the other in co. Wicklow the 
following November. This species has not been obtained in 
Greenland, Iceland, or on the Continent of Europe ; and it seems 
inexpedient to admit to the British list an American land-bird 
which—even assuming the accuracy of the records—had probably 
escaped from confinement. 
