THE KINGFISHER 131 



*>ut of a sandbank or where there is some other 

 irregularity on .which it can get a foothold and 

 a starting-off place for its digging operations. 

 Failing this, the bird will make this first foot- 

 hold for itself in the following manner : From a 

 distance of about six feet the bird flies, from the 

 ground or from an adjacent branch, straight at 

 the sandbank, driving its bill well into the sand ; 

 :it then drops, and the bill, acting as a lever, 

 forces out an appreciable quantity of sand. The 

 process is repeated several times, the bill being 

 -driven into the right spot with absolute precision. 

 Ultimately a good foothold is obtained. The 

 bird now commences to dig with the beak, while 

 the feet are used to throw out the sand behind 

 it. Examination of a burrow will generally 

 reveal beak-marks all along the roof and sides, 

 right to the end of the burrow. "As soon as the 

 excavation is large enough, both birds work in 

 the nesting-hole at the same time. 



The hole itself is about two inches in 

 diameter, and is usually made a foot or so from 

 the top of the bank. It extends for about two 

 feet into the bank, but when the sand is 

 soft a burrow may be nearly three feet in 

 length. 



