lU BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



long, sharp bills. In some species the toes are ar- 

 ranged three in front and one behind; in others, two 

 in front and two behind, as in the Parrots and certain 

 other groups. 



Kingfishers breed in holes in banks, generally by 

 the side of some stream. No nest is made, but the 

 eggs, which are white and translucent, are laid on a 

 bed of fishbones and the hard parts of Crustacea that 

 has been ejected by the birds after the soft parts have 

 been digested. The Common European Kingfisher 

 is small, the upper parts are a brilliant blue and the 

 lower parts buff and white. See Plate 9, Fig. 40. 



The Common American, or Belted Kingfisher, is 

 much larger than the preceding and has a ypell-marked 

 crest. The upper part of the body is blue, faintly 

 streaked with darker colour; the throat and sides of 

 the neck are white, as well as the under-parts; the 

 wings are blackish, with white spots on the primaries, 

 and across the breast is a wide band of blue. The tail 

 is barred with white, except the two middle feathers, 

 which are blue. The Belted Kingfisher, like many 

 others of its tribe, has the habit of perching motionless 

 on a small bough overlooking a stream and waiting 

 imtil a fish comes to the surface, when it makes a 

 quick dart, seizes the prey in its beak and returns with 

 Jt to the perch, where it is devoured. The feet are 

 very smalLin comparison to the size of the bird. Like 

 the European species, the Belted Kingfisher nests in 

 holes, digging a timnel in a bank and widening it at 

 the end for the reception of the eggs. "yVhen invaded, 

 the birds will defend their nests vigorously with their 

 sharp bills. 



