Picarian Birds. 
101 
ispidn ) is certainly the most brilliant of our birds as regards plumage, and though 
not much can be said for the beauty of its form, there is no more charming sight on 
our rivers than that of a Kingfisher speeding along with the sun shining on his 
plumage. The bird progresses through the air in a straight line, with the bill out- 
pointed and the wings vigorously beaten, so that the bright blue back is very 
conspicuous, while, when the bird turns in its flight, the chestnut of the under parts is 
also perceptible. As it flies it utters an occasional shrill and unmusical note. The 
food of the Kingfisher consists almost entirely of fish, though small crustaceans and 
insects are also sometimes eaten. A hole is tunnelled out by the birds themselves 
in a sandy bank, and at the end of this tunnel the eggs are laid in a kind of chamber. 
The eggs are pure white, from five to seven in number, and are at first laid on the 
bare floor of the chamber, but they gradually get 
surrounded by the debris of fish-bones and the 
castings thrown up by the old birds. 
This North American species 
is said to have been shot in 
Ireland on two occasions, viz. : — - 
in October and November, 1845. 
It differs from our Common Kingfisher in being 
much larger, and in having quite a long tail. 
Whereas in Alcedo ispida the only difference 
between the male and female is in the red base 
to the lower mandible of the female, in the 
genus Ceryle the males differ from the female 
in colour, and the former has one grey band across 
the breast, while the female has a grey, as well as 
a rufous band on the lower parts. The habits of 
the Belted Kingfisher do not differ from those 
of our own Kingfisher. 
Although in many characters, both osteological and external, 
THE BELTED 
KINGFISHER. 
( Ceryle alcyon.) 
The Belted Kingfisher. 
the Rollers have strong affinities with the Kingfishers and Bee- 
THE ROLLERS. 
Sub-Ovdev . ... . . . , , . 
CORACI F eaters, especially in the way in which the toes are united together, 
they have a very peculiar and Crow-like bill, quite different from 
the slender and pointed bills of the other groups. They are an old-world group of 
birds and are spread over the greater part of the Eastern Hemisphere. 
This splendidly plumaged bird is only an occasional visitor 
to Britain, but it has been recorded more than a hundred times. 
Its bright colour renders it easily recognisable, and it has a curious 
habit of tumbling in the air, whence it gets its name of' Roller.' 
It has a harsh note like that of a Crow, and lays its four or six 
white eggs in the hole of a tree or building, and sometimes excavates holes for 
THE COMMON 
ROLLER. 
( Coracias 
garrulus.) 
