PELARGOPSIS GUEIAL. 
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and once near Mahabaleshwar, and Jerdon remarks that it is rarely seen m the Caruatic or the tableland. 
It is common in Bengal, but has been met but rarely in the north-west. At the Sambhur Lake and m Sindh 
it does not appear to be found. In the contrary direction, in Chota Nagpur, Mr. Ball says it is met with 
occasionally, as also on the Rajmehal and Satpura hills. It is not uncommon about Calcutta and 
Dr. Hamilton observed that it bred in mud walls in that neighbourhood ; it extends to the lower Himalayas. 
In Burmah it is replaced by the paler race P. burmanica, and even in Cachar Mr. Hume says the Stork-billed 
Kingfisher belongs more to the latter than to the present species. 
Habits.— The Stork-billed Kingfisher always frequents the vicinity of water, and, as far as my experience 
goes, feeds entirely on fish and frogs. It is solitary in habit and rather sluggish, taking up its post on the 
branches of forest-trees overhanging water, or in the mangroves lining brackish lagoons, and at long 
intervals plunges headlong down on its prey, splashing up the water in its descent. Every now and then it 
gives out its loud discordant cries, and generally moves on to some other likely spot with a straight-on-end 
and powerful flight. It is very early astir in the morning, awakening with its far-soundmg laugh the 
traveller who has halted for the night on the borders of the forest-lined river, or welcoming the sportsman 
on the termination of his long and early morning drive to some lonely Snipe-ground. I have seen it, when 
disturbed by gun-shots, take long flights across extensive paddy-fields, and alter reaching a place of safety 
shout vociferously for a quarter of an hour. When wounded it is capable of inflicting a severe blow with its 
huge bill ; and a Mr. Smith, in his MS. notes quoted by Dr. Horsfield, mentions an instance in which he 
“ once observed a contest between one of these birds and a Hawk of considerable size, in which the Hawk 
was worsted and obliged to leave his hold, from the effects of a severe blow which the other administered 
to him on the breast.” Mr. Ball remarks that he has only once seen it plunge into water for the purpose 
of capturing a fish. I have been more fortunate than this ; for I have seen it several times m the act of 
seizing its prey; but it certainly is a far less active fisher than other members ol its family that have come 
under my notice. Layard found this bird feeding on crabs and small Mollusca, as well as on fish. 
Nidification . — Breeds in secluded spots, excavating a deep hole in the side of a river-bank or in the 
bund of a tank beneath shady trees. The nesting-time in Ceylon is during the first three or four months 
in the year. Mr. Edward Creasey, Ceylon Survey Dept., found a nest in the Jaffna district which was 
situated 7 feet from the entrance to the hole ; it contained two eggs, which were spherical in shape, pure 
white, and measured 1-45 by D23 inch. Mr. Thompson found it breeding in May on the streams 
debouching from the Himalayas, and speaks of a nest containing five young ones, near which there were 
some deserted habitations, each having the appearance of having served its turn as a breeding-place in 
former years. Another writer, Mr. Theobald, notes its laying in the fourth week in June. 
