OUR HOME BIRDS. 
213 
bank which affords a good prospect for fishing, and 
made a foot or two in depth, with an extent of four 
or five feet. The materials are loose grass and a few 
feathers ; and he always leaves room for himself and 
Mrs. Kingfisher to turn round conveniently. The 
couple appear to become attached to one particular 
hole, as they will use it for several years in succes- 
sion, and are not easily frightened from it. There 
are usually five pure white eggs, but some one tried 
the experiment of taking them away, one at a time, 
until he had carried off eighteen from the same nest, 
the hen-bird obligingly retiring to the extremity of 
the hole while he withdrew the egg ; on returning 
the next day he would find that she had laid again 
as usual.” 
