. Birds of Britain . , and resembles, as he darts withrapid flight down our rivers and streams, some hugeturquoise. Having fixed on a favourite piece of water, he seldomwanders far afield, but may be seen at all times of the year,sitting on an overhanging bough, ever and anon droppinginto the water to seize some passing fish. His prey beingcaptured, he returns to his perch and kills the strugglingfish by knocking it against his stand; it is then swallowedhead first, and he resumes his motionless watch. If sportbe slow, and he be hungry, he will wend his way with rapidflight down the river to t
. Birds of Britain . , and resembles, as he darts withrapid flight down our rivers and streams, some hugeturquoise. Having fixed on a favourite piece of water, he seldomwanders far afield, but may be seen at all times of the year,sitting on an overhanging bough, ever and anon droppinginto the water to seize some passing fish. His prey beingcaptured, he returns to his perch and kills the strugglingfish by knocking it against his stand; it is then swallowedhead first, and he resumes his motionless watch. If sportbe slow, and he be hungry, he will wend his way with rapidflight down the river to try his luck in another place, andit is at such times that we shall probably get a momentaryglimpse of his brilliancy, till a curve in the stream hides himfrom sight. Mere cold does not seem to affect him in the least, butwhen the streams are frozen he suffers greatly from hunger,and after a day or two of frosty weather he reluctantlyleaves his accustomed home for the milder reaches of the 182 KINGFISHER Alcedo ispida. The Kingfisher sea-shore, where the restless tide brings him in a continualsupply of food. The sea-shore, however, is not to his taste,and at the first break-up of the frost he returns again to hisinhospitable home. Early in April he turns his attentionto housekeeping. Like most bright-plumaged birds, he hasno song with which to woo his mate, but at such times theymay often be seen chasing each other about up and downthe stream, uttering their shrill and sharp call-note. Aperpendicular wall in the bank of the river is chosen, andnear the top of this they excavate a long low tunnel withthe end slightly widened out to form a chamber. The nestis peculiar, being formed of a mass of small regurgitatedbones, and on this the six pure white and highly glossedeggs are laid. As soon as the young are fledged andthoroughly able to earn their own living, they are driven awayfrom their home and forced to seek winter-quarters , especially in the northern portions o
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirdsgreatbritain
