148 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



that the Swallow would not return ; consequently I determined 

 to dig down to the nest. Entering the excavation head first, I 

 soon found a small hole about two inches in diameter leadiug 

 upwards about three feet from the entrance. I started burrowing, 

 when the first thing discovered was a spherical white egg recently 

 deposited on the bare ground. This was identified as the egg of 

 the Natal Kingfisher (Ispidina natalensis), the clutch usually 

 consisting of four eggs ; and, on going a short distance further in 

 the same hole, I came across the Swallow's nest, with a clutch of 

 three small pure white elongate eggs, the nest being constructed 

 wholly of minute grass-tufts. Both the Swallow and Kingfisher 

 had made use of the same entrance. The Ant-bear I did not 

 attempt to burrow after, this being a task usually ending in 

 fruitless results, as these curious animals can dig faster than any 

 two individuals provided with spades. 



A Curious Deposit of Eggs. — For some time past a pair of 

 Brown-hooded Kingfishers (Halcyon albiventris) have frequented 

 my garden, but I was unable to locate their nest. At last, how- 

 ever, I came across one of the birds carrying a grasshopper, which 

 at once led me to understand I was too late, and that the birds 

 were feeding their young. They had nested in the bank of a pit, 

 as is their wont, generally penetrating into the earth about three 

 or four feet. Down this pit an old ladder had been left pro- 

 jecting several feet above the pit's mouth. About a week later, 

 when revisiting the spot, to my surprise and delight I observed 

 four large round white eggs lying on the ground immediately 

 below one of the bars of the ladder, from which the eggs had 

 evidently been dropped. The bird, having young in its nest, was 

 apparently on the horns of a dilemma ; it was useless depositing 

 her eggs with the young, and hence the bird quietly disencumbered 

 herself of the superfluous eggs in this easy but somewhat remark- 

 able manner. The clutch of this bird consists of four round 

 eggs, the shells being very thin, while the newly-laid egg has a 

 salmon tint, the yolk reflecting through ; but when the egg is 

 blown it becomes pearly white. October is the nesting season. 



