A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS 
653 
Our Cuckoos have nothing in common with the European 
birds, that lay their eggs in the nests of others and are most 
shiftless citizens in spite of their merry voices and bright 
feathers. Our birds are sober-minded insect eaters, even if 
they are rather poor housebuilders. 
Family Alcedinidae: Kingfishers 
Belted Kingfisher: Ceryle alcyon. S. R. 
Length: 12-13 inches. 
Male and Female: Long crest. Straight bill, longer than head; head 
appearing large for size of body. Above lead-blue, somewhat 
variegated with black. Below whitish. Two dull blue bands 
across breast. White transverse bands and spots on the short 
tail. Female has rusty bands across breast. 
Note: A harsh, rattling cry, as familiar along river banks as the Jay’s 
scream in the woods. 
Season: A common summer resident, which might almost be classed 
as a resident, as it comes in March, and in mild seasons often 
winters. 
Nest: In hollow trees and in earth burrows ; 6-8 feet deep. 
Eggs: 6-8, crystal white. 
The Kingfisher may be easily named, as he sits on his usual 
perch, a dead stump or limb jutting over the water, by his 
large, long-crested head, which gives his body a bobtailed 
appearance. Living entirely upon fish, he is driven from small 
streams to the larger rivers by the closing in of the ice, but in 
open winters I have seen this bird in every month from No- 
vember to March. 
ORDER RAPTORES : BIRDS OF PREY 
Family Bubonidae: Horned Owls 
American Long-eared Owl: Asio wilsonianus. R. 
Cat Owl. 
Length: 14-16 inches. 
Male and Female: Above finely mottled with brown, ash, and dark 
orange. Long, erect ear tufts. Complete facial disk, reddish 
brown with darker inner circle ; dark brown broken bands on 
wings and tail. Legs and feet completely feathered. Breast pale 
orange with long brown stripes. Bill and claws blackish. 
Note: A variety of hoot, also a moaning mew. 
Season: Resident. 
