244 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



aquatic birds themselves, but the disadvantage is that, unless sufficiently 

 tame, they live in perpetual fear of their aquatic companions and neg- 

 lect feeding. When taken young, which is the only chance of taking 

 most birds, and fed in the same place with the ducks, but in a separate 

 cage, kingfishers soon become accustomed to their presence. A stork- 

 billed kingfisher has been living in a large aviary during the last 

 year, but it was already tame when placed here. 



Food. — Small fish, prawns, reptiles, frogs, &c. In captivity they 

 will eat minced meat, but it is better not to give it every day. Small 

 live fish may be placed in a gamla (earthen jar) full of water. 



Breeding. — Kingfishers breed in a wild state within the garden. 

 A pair of the white-breasted kingfishers have been found during the 

 last four or five years to build regularly in the rhinoceros' enclosure 

 in a steep bank of the tank, some two feet above the surface of the 

 water. 



Observations on the habits of Kingfishers. 



In captivity they are uninteresting birds, sitting motionless on a 

 perch, and watching, not their prey, but the busy gambols of the other 

 inmates of the house. The only time that one is observed to become 

 lively is when the food is forthcoming ; the stork-billed kingfisher now 

 living in the garden may be observed to open its mandibles while look- 

 ing on other birds feeding. 



(138) THE INDIAN ROLLER. 



(CORACIAS INDICA— (Linn.) ) 



Hindi and Bengali — Nilkanta. 



A well-known bird in Lower Bengal. 



Hab. — Found all over India up to the base of the Himalayas, and 

 also in Ceylon. 



Length of life in captivity. 



Specimens have been living since December 1887. This, however, 

 does not represent their period of captivity, as they were living in the 

 menagerie of the late King of Oudh before their inclusion in this 

 collection. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing, — Appears to do well in a large aviary ; adult birds do not 

 thrive at all, and as they are commonly brought in should be rejected. 



Food. — Satoo, minced meat, insects and worms ; it kills centipedes 

 and small lizards whenever an opportunity presents itself. 



Nothing is known with regard to its breeding or ailments in 

 captivity. 





