412 BRITISH BIEDS. 



(iii) CoRACizE. 

 Kingfishers (Aix'edinidj:). 



One species only occurs here — namely, Alcedo isphlo, which 

 is a resident hird, generally distributed over Great Britain. It 

 delights in lakes, ponds, rivers, and even the sea-coast, darting 

 about in straight lines, and suddenly plunging from its perch 

 into the water to secure some unwary fish, upon which it lives. 

 Dragon-flies and beetles are also eaten. The beautiful azure- 

 blue back and dark - blue tail and chestnut breast and belly 

 make it a conspicuous object. The nest is made in a hole in 

 the banks of pieces of water and rivers. The eggs are laid on a 

 layer of fish-bones. 



Three other groups are represented in this section, by the 

 Roller (C'lirarins garrulus), Bee-eater {Mmnps apia^fer), and 

 Hoopoe {Upupa eptops), but they are only casual visitors. 



(iv) Pici. 



WOODPECKEHS AND AVliYNECKS (PiCID.e). 



The Picidas have the hallux and fourth toe turned back, the 

 second and third forwards (fig. 22.5). 



Three "Woodpeckers occur in Great Britain, — the Great Green 



Woodpecker (Oeciiius n'ri- 

 dis), the Great Spotted 

 Woodpecker {Picus majtir), 

 and the Lesser Spotted (P. 

 minor). The "Woodpeckers 

 hammer out holes in trees 

 in which they form their 

 nests. The green wood- 

 pecker cuts out a neat cir- 

 cular hole, by choice in a soft-wooded tree — this tunnel running 

 in as far as the hard central wood, and then turning downwards 

 at right angles, where a large chamber is formed, in which the 



. 225.— ScANSURiAL Foot, as seen in 

 WooDPEt'KKiis AND Parrots. 



