22 
BRITISH BIRDS* 
rate the properties afcribed to it by the fuperftitious 
in all ages, would occupy too large a portion of 
this work : but the following - modern inflance 
feems worthy of notice:— 
Dr Heyfham of Carlifle, in his Catalogue of 
Cumberland Animals, fays, On the 7th of May 
a boy from Upperby brought me a Kingfiflier 
alive, which he had taken when fitting on her 
eggs the night before: from him I received the 
following information: — Having often this fpring 
obferved thefe birds frequent a bank upon the river 
Peteril, he watched them carefully, and faw them 
go into a fmali hole in the bank® The hole was 
too fmall to admit his hand, but as it was made of 
foft mould he eafily enlarged it. It was upwards 
of half a yard long, at the end of it the eggs, 
which were fix in number, were placed upon the 
bare mould, there being not the fmailefl: appear- 
ance of a neft.^^ If the boy was corred in his re- 
lation to Dr Heylham, it may be ’concluded that 
thefe birds fometimes, from neceflity perhaps, build 
a neft, and fometimes make the dry mould anfwer 
that purpofe. 
Aryioth compares the neft to a gourd, and its fubftance and 
texture to thofe fea-balls or lumps of interwoven filaments 
which are cut with difficulty ; but, when dried, become fri» 
able. 
Milan and Plutarch defcribe it as being made to float on the 
placid face of the ocean. 
