256 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



up by the parent birds. The Kingfisher usually 

 selects the steep bank of a river, brook, or pond in 

 which to commence its boring-operations, but we 

 have now and then discovered the breeding-establish- 

 ments of this species in gravel-pits at a considerable 

 distance from water : the tunnel generally slopes 

 gently upwards to a distance of eighteen inches or 

 two feet, and ends in a slight enlargement, in which 

 the eggs are placed ; these are from six to eight in 

 number, of a pure glossy white, and nearly round. 

 On leaving their nursery, the young birds perch on 

 any neighbouring boughs, and keep up an incessant 

 cry for food for the first few days, but soon learn to 

 catch their prey for themselves. Many authors state 

 that the Kingfisher hovers for a few seconds before 

 making his plunge at his intended victim, but we 

 have personally found this to be a somewhat excep- 

 tional habit, the bird usually darting directly from 

 its perch, and emerging immediately, flies to a bough 

 or twig overhanging the water, and after giving the 

 captured fish a smart blow or two against the perch, 

 tosses it into the air and swallows it head foremost. 

 We often notice this species making its way rapidly 

 across country at great distances from any stream, 

 bound to or from some pond in search of food, 

 which although, as Ave believe, always taken from 

 the water, does not consist by any means exclusively 

 of fishes, water-beetles and tadpoles being favourite 

 morsels. The Kingfisher flies very quickly, generally 

 low over the water, and is a bird of comparatively 

 solitary habits, for, although in most years several 

 may be observed in the course of a ramble along the 

 banks of the Nen, or a day's fishing in its waters, it 

 is seldom that we meet with more than two in 



