K I N G F I S II E K 
ALCEDO IS PI 1)A- 
S 
“ seos in 
the "™ En " LTOd that 1 ’ iaTo visited - t n 
becomes & Icarcer, — 8 to m y ^ ZtLZ Z L” 
it may be commonly seen in seven! ~ 
counties; I only state that it has escaped my notice. 
In Sussex the Kingfisher is, or rather was, especially numerous. During autumn 1 have, days a o 
by, often observed as many as forty or fifty of these birds fishing in the channels among the mudbanks m io 
Nook at Rye. They used to commence working down the creeks soon after the turn of the tide ; and, close; y 
following the falling water, they found abundant food in the numerous shallow pools. About half-flood they 
would generally make a move, flying up the creeks, and so on, to the small drains that led through the 
marshes, and then dispersing themselves over the levels. I have occasionally observed a score or two fly 
past in small parties of threes and fours within a quarter of an hour while watching them from the 
shingle-banks close at hand, one or two now and then steadying themselves for a moment and then making 
a dash after a shrimp or small sea-fish. Twenty years makes a difference in most things : the mudbanks 
and creeks arc certainly gone ; and I expect the numerous parties of Kingfishers that frequented them remain 
only in the memory of those who have had the pleasure of watching them, the last time I visited the spot 
some fine specimens of South-Down mutton were grazing stolidly and complacently on the luxuriant turf 
that had formed where previously hundreds of acres of mudbanks were covered by every flowing tide. 
I perceive this habit of coming down to the salt water, and even into the harbours, is common at several 
parts of the south coast during autumn. If unmolested these birds arc remarkably unsuspicious of danger. 
I have on several occasions, when the tide was low, watched a bird or two early in the morning, before the 
day’s work had commenced, perched on the chain cables of the colliers lying alongside the wharfs in the 
harbours both of Rye and Shorcham, their bright colours, lit up by the rising sun, being peculiarly attractive 
against the grimy background. Intent on watching for their prey, they would pay not the slightest heed to a 
boat dropping past with the tide within ten or a dozen yards of their station. 
In the broad-districts of the east of Norfolk the birds arc not nearly so common as might be expected. 
A few stragglers may be met with during autumn and winter ; but, owing to the flat nature of the country, 
they are forced to seek other localities for breeding-purposes. While Snipe-shooting one winter round 
Hickling Broad, I noticed some small object splashing in the water at the side of a dyke; and on proceeding 
to the spot, I discovered an unfortunate Kingfisher that had come to grief in a rather singular manner. The 
