KINGSFISHER. 51 



Inhabits Carolina, Georgia, and other neighbouring parts. Mr. 

 Abbot informs me, that it is common about Savannah, and usually 

 perched on trees about ponds, brooks, &c. making a loud chattering 

 noise, but the length reaches to twelve inches and a half, and breadth 

 twenty-one ; it lays usually four eggs, in a deep hole in the sandy 

 banks. The colour of the egg is dull white, somewhat transparent 

 at the larger end. — It is common also at Hudson's Bay, and called 

 there Kiskeman, or Kiskemanasue.* It breeds in the same manner 

 in sand banks, the holes running a long way horizontally inwards ; 

 lays five white eggs, and the young are hatched in June. It has the 

 same manners in respect to catching its prey as the European one, 

 being often seen fluttering over the surface of the water, and darting 

 down on a sudden, seldom fails to bring up a fish in its bill :f is said 

 also to feed on lizards. It has likewise been found in Nootka Sound.J 



Jaguacati-guacu, Raii 182. Sloan. Jam. ii. 313. t. 55. 3. 



Martin-pecheur de la Louisiane, PL enl. 715. 



Belted Kingsfisher, Gen. Syn. ii. 637. A. Bartr. Trav. p. 287. 



Length eleven inches and a half Bill two inches and three 

 quarters, colour dark brown ; irides red ; head crested, lead-coloured, 

 each feather darker down the middle ; before the eye a white spot ; 

 chin and half the neck white, which, extending round, forms a collar 

 of an inch in breadth at the back part ; below this the neck is bluish 

 ash-colour for another inch, passing backwards to communicate with 

 the hind part of the neck, which, as well as the back, wings, and 

 tail, is of the same colour ; breast and belly deep ferruginous, and 



* Mr. Hutchins. f Cook's Last Voy. ii. 296. 



X This is probably what the Rev. J. Clayton calls the Fishing Hawk, which he says, is an 



absolute species of Kingsfisher, but full as large, or larger, than our Jay, much of the 



colour and shape of a Kingsfisher, though not so curiously feathered ; it has a large crop. 



Ph. Trans, v. xvii. p. 986. 



H2 



