COMMON KINGFISHER. • 343 



The note of the Kingfisher is a shrill pe^, and when repeated several 

 times in successionj which is usually when the hird is alarmed or disturbed 

 from its perching-place, is shortened into pip, pip, pip. Sometimes this 

 note is uttered ill a much more plaintive tone than at others. As a rule 

 the Kingfisher is a comparatively silent bird, and its notes are often so 

 low as to be scarcely audible at a short distance. 



The Kingfisher lives principally on small fish ; but it also eats various 

 kinds of insects and their larvse. It also captures shrimps, and has been 

 known to take small crabs ; and Naumann states that when hard pressed 

 it will take leeches. Stevenson, in his ' Birds of Norfolk,^ mentions an 

 instance of a Kingfisher taking a small shrew — an act, however, which 

 cost the poor bird its life. All the indigestible portions of its food are 

 cast up in pellets, most, if not all of them, in the roosting- or breeding- 

 place. 



The Kingfisher is said to pair very early in the year ; but these unions 

 are probably confined to young or single birds, for there can be little 

 doubt that the bird pairs for life. It is a somewhat early breeder, and the 

 eggs are laid by the end of April or beginning of May ; in exceptional 

 cases it has been known to lay as early as February ; and Mr. Carter, of 

 Bedale, has written to inform me of a nest containing young ones on the 

 ] 2th of May. Not only are eggs sometimes found very early in the year, 

 but others are often discovered very late, no doubt the produce of birds 

 whose earlier efforts had been unsuccessfal, for they appear to have only 

 one brood in the season. The Kingfisher rears its young in a hole, which 

 it generally makes for itself, or less frequently adapts for its purpose one 

 ready made. This hole is made in the banks of the stream it frequents ; but 

 the presence of water is not absolutely necessary, for several instances are 

 on record where it has reared its young at some distance from a stream. 

 For many years one or two pairs of Kingfishers have bred regularly in small 

 gravel -pits in a plantation adjoining my brother's garden in the town of 

 Hitchin, at a considerable distance from water. It has also been known 

 to lay its eggs in a hole in a wall. The usual situation is under a bank of 

 moderately soft soil, often amongst the gnarled roots or under the shelter 

 of overhanging bushes. It is at various heights from the ground, the bird 

 not appearing to have any special choice. Mr. Carter also informs me 

 that in his neighbourhood ''they constantly build in company with a 

 colony of Sand-Martins, the earth being suitable for both birds." When 

 the spot has been selected (if the birds are not already in possession of a 

 hole, for they will return year after year to the old quarters if left unmo- 

 lested), they immediately begin operations ; but if disturbed they wiU often 

 forsake their work and commence another hole close at hand. Sometimes 

 a large stone or a root stops the way, and it often happens that several 

 attempts are made before the little birds are suited. The Kingfisher breeds 



