BELTED KINGFISHER—Family Alcedinidae. 
390. Ceryle alcyon. 13 inches. 
The rattling note of this well known bird is familiar in al¬ 
most all localities in the neighborhood of ponds or rivers where 
small fish are common, throughout North America. Their food 
consists almost entirely of small fish, which they catch by 
plunging upon from high in the air, where they will hover 
over the water similar to the Osprey, or they will spend their 
time sitting upon an overhanging limb, and, when a fish is 
seen, drop from that upon the fish, usually taking it back to 
the limb to be eaten. 
Nest. —Is located at the end of burrows, which they dig out 
of the sand banks or the banks of creeks and rivers, some¬ 
times extending back from six to eight feet, usually with a 
little rise in the tunnel for the purpose of keeping it dry. They 
lay from five to eight glossy white eggs (1.35 x 1.05). 
RINGED KINGFISHER. 
390.1. Ceryle torquata. 8% inches. 
This is somewhat larger than the above, and found only on 
the most southern borders of the United States. Eggs white 
(1.45 x 1.10). 
/M 
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