left from meals are added to these materials as oviposition and incubation progress, and by the time 
the little ones are out a handful of bones and scales has often accumulated. Sometimes large quantities 
of rubbish, such as sticks, straws, leaves, bark, and moss arranged promiscuously, constitute the nest 
proper. I have taken a large hatful of materials from a single nest, and, again, I have found the eggs 
resting upon the bare ground, no materials at all having been carried into the cavity by the birds. 
EGGS : 
Six or seven eggs generally constitute a set. They are beautiful clear white, with moderately thick 
hard shells, highly polished. They measure in long-diameter from 1.26 to 1.37, and in short-diameter 
from 1.00 to 1.06 ; a common size is about 1.32 x 1.04 inches. 
DIFFERENTIAL POINTS ; 
See “Wild Pigeon.” 
REMARKS : 
The eggs figured represent the extremes and average in size and shape occurring in six sets. 
The Kingfisher is a hardy, hold bird and an ornament to our fauna. It frequents retired places, 
and except during the nesting season is quiet and unobtrusive. During the last of April and the first 
of May, its rattling notes are frequently to he heard. In the vicinity of its nest it is quiet and rarely 
seen. So far as I have observed, it excavates its nest and feeds its young at night. In 1880 a pair 
selected for their home a hank along a much frequented road, about two hundred yards from the Scioto 
river. There was rarely half an hour during the day from sunrise till dusk that teams did not pass the 
spot. I drove by it dozens of times after first noticing the hole, hut never saw the birds. One day I 
concluded to stop and see if the cavity was inhabited, A long buggy-whip was pushed into the nest. 
The old bird was there, but I could not drive her out. Procuring a spade, I dug down and easily 
caught her with my hand. She was sitting upon six eggs, and within ten feet of a public road. 
The female sits closely, and will savagely strike at sticks or any object poked at her. She becomes 
greatly attached to the locality of her first nest, and will build year after year in the same bank, either 
deepening and cleaning out the old excavation or making a new one near by. The nest is usually com- 
pleted by the first week in -May. The young are helpless things, and require a deal of patient care and 
hard work to rear and teach the skill of proficient fishermen. To dive into the water and catch a 
minnow is no easy task, and much practice is necessay before they are able to support themselves. The 
Kingfisher catches its prey in its bill, and hastening from the water, it alights upon a limb, either the 
one from which it made the dive or a neighboring one, and holding the fish about midway between its 
head and tail, repeatedly and quickly raps it against the limb until dead; it is then swallowed head 
foremost. 
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