File:Birds and nature (1905) (14771339903).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature11905chic (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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e. Our illus-tration is that of a female, which hasa band of chestnut instead of blue. The nest of the Belted Kingfisher ismade by excavating a long, windinghole in a sand-bank, which sometimesreaches a length of eight feet, four tosix feet being the usual length. Thehole at the opening in the bank is aboutthree inches in diameter and this grad-ually increases to the end where thenest is made. This is composed offeathers, grass, leaves and other mate-rial of this kind. Frequently the nest ismade in a hollow tree, presumably by apair of birds which are too lazy to diga nest in a bank, or, we would ratherbelieve, because no sand-bank is nearthe water. The birds pair soon after their arrivalin migration, nest making and egg-lay-ing following quickly. Five or six eggsone and a quarter inches in diameter,of a dlear white color and an oval orspherical shape are laid. Incubationoccupies about sixteen days. The younggenerally remain in the nest until theyare fledged. It is a curious fact that
Text Appearing After Image:
17 KINGFISHER. (Ceryle alcyon). I Life-size. COPYRIGHT 1900, BY A. W. MUMFORD, CMICAQO when the time for the fall migrationarrives the young leave their parentsand pursue the southern journey alone.The Kingfisher is more or less of a soli-tary bird, and, except during the mat-ing season, two individuals are rarelyseen together. The habits of the Kingfisher are mter-esting and instructive. It is a naturalborn fisherman and plies its trade withas much patience and skill as does itsbrother sportsman, Man. Its food con-sists almost entirely of small fisheswhich it captures with astonishing dex-terity. Its favorite haunts are wellwooded streams and small lakes andponds where it can pursue its avoca-tions in quietness and peace. Here itmay be seen by any careful observer,and its interesting habits studied. Insuch a locality it may be observed sit-ting on the overhanging limb of a tree and appearing like a statue, so motion-less does it sit. But wait! a school ofsmall fish come swimming alon

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