KINGFISHER. 1.97 



wing, hovering over the water where there was a quantity of 

 small fish, and plunging into the stream in the manner be- 

 fore described. They skim along the surface of the water at 

 times chiefly towards the evening, which may be in search 

 of water-insects for their young family, as they do so more 

 during the summer months than at any other time. 



About the middle of May the Kingfisher begins to seek 

 a mate ; as soon as his choice is made, the birds begin to 

 dig a hole in a sand-bank about two inches in diameter, and 

 sufficiently deep to prevent a mans arm reaching to the 

 extremity ; near the end of this excavation the female de- 

 posits five or six eggs. The young birds are fed with insects 

 and half digested fish until they are strong enough to share 

 the fare of the family. 



The Kingfisher, when flying along the surface of the 

 water, may frequently be heard to utter a shrill piping call, 

 which, although louder, much resembles that of the summer 

 snipe. 



The entire length of this bird is seven inches ; the wing, 

 from the carpus to the tip, measures three inches ; the tail 

 one inch and three quarters ; the beak is an inch and a half 

 long from the forehead to the tip, and two inches from the 

 tip to the gape. The tarsus measures three lines, the middle 

 toe and claw nine lines, the inner and hinder toes alike four 

 and a half lines ; the claws are much arched and very sharp. 

 The feet are formed for grasping like the human hand. 

 The eyes, which are large for the size of the bird, are oval 

 as well as the pupil, and directed forward doubtlessly for the 

 purpose of aiding the bird to discern its food in the liquid 

 element. 



The forehead, top of the head, nape, tippet, and wing, 

 coverts are rich reflecting greenish blue, which colour is 

 continued on the outer webs of the quill-feathers, seconda- 

 ries, and scapulars ; from the base of the under mandible 



