KINGFISHER
Alcedo ispida
Mere cold does not seem to affect him in the least, but when the streams are frozen he suffers greatly from hunger, and after a day or two of frosty weather he reluctantly leaves his accustomed home for the milder reaches of the sea-shore, where the restless tide brings him in a continual supply of food. The sea-shore, however, is not to his taste, and at the first break-up of the frost he returns again to his inhospitable home. Early in April he turns his attention to housekeeping. Like most bright-plumaged birds, he has no song with which to woo his mate, but at such times they may often be seen chasing each other about up and down the stream, uttering their shrill and sharp call-note. A perpendicular wall in the bank of the river is chosen, and near the top of this they excavate a long low tunnel with the end slightly widened out to form a chamber. The nest is peculiar, being formed of a mass of small regurgitated bones, and on this the six pure white and highly glossed eggs are laid. As soon as the young are fledged and thoroughly able to earn their own living, they are driven away from their home and forced to seek winter-quarters elsewhere. Many, especially in the northern portions of its range, go to the sea-shore and migrate, while others seek out some quiet stream where they may fish in undisputed possession, till the return of spring impels them to seek a mate and form a home for themselves. The sexes are practically alike in plumage. The top of the head, wings, and malar stripe are dark greenish blue, mottled with lighter; back and rump brilliant cobalt blue; tail dark blue. The under parts, lores, and ear coverts are chestnut; throat whitish; bill black, orange at the base; legs deep red. The young bird is duller and shows traces of greenish on the breast. Length 7·5 in.; wing 3 in.
THE ROLLER
Coracias garrulus, Linnæus
Although stragglers of this beautiful and brilliant species have frequently visited this country in both the spring and autumn migrations, it can by no means be considered as a regular visitor to our shores. It is very numerous in Southern Europe and breeds as far north as St. Petersburg and certain parts of Sweden; in the countries bordering the North Sea, however, it is decidedly rare. In winter it inhabits the southern portion of Africa, being numerous in Cape Colony and Natal.
The sexes are alike. The head, neck, and under parts are of a brilliant greenish blue, the mantle is brown, and there is a patch of gorgeous ultramarine blue on the lesser wing coverts. Length 12 in.; wing 7·7 in.
THE BEE-EATER
Merops apiaster, Linnæus
A good many stragglers of this southern species have occurred from time to time, chiefly in the southern half of England, but a few have also been taken in Scotland and Ireland. In Southern Europe it is extremely abundant throughout the summer, wintering in Africa. The sexes are alike. The head, neck, upper back, and a bar across the secondaries are chestnut brown; forehead white, turning to green; lores and ear coverts black; tail green, two central feathers elongated and tipped with black. Throat yellow; a black band across the lower neck; under parts greenish blue. Length 11·25 in.; wing 6 in.
HOOPOE
Upupa epops, Linnæus
In the spring of every year, with unfailing regularity, a few misguided individuals of this interesting bird seek the hospitality of our shores, and, were they unmolested, would eventually settle as one of our permanent summer visitors in the southern counties. Unfortunately, apart from its striking plumage, which cannot fail to arrest attention, it is of a very confiding nature, stalking about lawns and grass fields with its peculiar walk, while it prods the ground with its long bill in search of grubs and insects. Such a sight is too much for the so-called collector or ignorant loafer, whose only idea on seeing a strange bird is to kill it, and thus it happens that our would-be guest either reposes as a fearful caricature in a glass case till moth and rust have done their work, or is frightened off to some other country where his appearance excites less curiosity and murder. From time to time, however, protected by some enlightened farmer or landowner, this species has been spared to pass the summer unmolested, and, choosing a hollow tree, preferably in an orchard or near some open grass fields, has reared a young brood to maturity and finally departed in peace to spend the winter in Southern Europe or Africa.