BELTED KINGSFISHER. 
171 
of hanks, ready to pounce on the frjr below ; 
(j^'''and then settling on an old dead OTerhanging limb 
t(ij'''‘eonnoitre. Mill-dams are particularly visited by 
weathered fisher; and the sound of his pipe is as 
* known to the miller, as the rattling of his own 
p.|'!''*r. Ra))id streams, with high perpendicular banks, 
4), “«ularly if they be of a hard ebyey, or sandy nature, 
aUo favourite phices of resort for this bird ; not only 
in such places the small fish are more exposed 
hut because those steep and dry banks are the 
situations for his nest. Into these he digs with 
ft), claws horizontally, sometimes to the extent of 
t|| Or live feet, at the distance of a foot or two from 
41 '^'•rface. The few materials he takes in are not 
'til?? *he extremity of the hole, that he 
i|'' his mate may have room to turn with convenience. 
r^J^oggsare five’ pure white, and the first brood usually 
Os out about the beginning of June, and sometimes 
according to that part of the country where 
’’eside. On the shores of Kentucky river, near 
ill *own of Frankfort, I found the female sitting early 
lifij^pril. They are very tenacious of their haunts, 
for several successive years in the same hole, 
not readily forsake it, even thongdi it be visited. 
I'd, '"telligent young gentleman informed mo, that having 
" here a kingsiislier built, he took away its eggs 
li^ i-itne to time, leaving always one behind, until he 
At ^’'hen no less than eighteen from the same nest, 
to o''®le of these visits, the female, being within, retired 
"!>„ *® extremity of the hole, while he withdrew the 
laiJi next day, when he returned, he found she had 
>|,*!?ain as usual. 
11(1? fabulous stories related by the ancients of the 
^() t J^^nner of hatching, &c. of the kingsfisher, are 
Ills '’’’•iing to be rei>ealed here. Over the winds and 
till, "’•■'ties the humble kingsti-shers of onr days, at least 
k „ ?P<'eies now before ns, have no control. Its nest 
l(i(,„®‘ther constructed of glue nor fish bones ; but of 
Aiff'' Rfass and a few feathers. It is not thrown on the 
of the water to float about, with its proprietor. 
