KINGFISHER.
bird had evidently at some former time been street by a shot, which had passed through the upper inaudible.
This wound was quite healed u p ; but a small piece of the horny substance of the beak bad been splmdeivd,
and into the crack produced by the fracture two or three of the small fibres which form part of the llowcrs
or seeds of the reed were so firmly fixed, that the bird was held fast. "While flying up the dyke it must have
brushed too closely to the reeds that grew on the banks and bceu caught in the manner described. The
struggles of the captive had broken down the reed, which was lying lint on the water, except wheu lifted up
by the victim in Ids vain attempts to escape. Wheu released from his unpleasant position he flew olT,
apparently none the worse for the mishap.
I have eomo across a few quiet spots in the southern counties where this species is in the habit of
breeding regularly. In every instance the hank resorted to was either directly overhanging the stream or
in its immediate vicinity. It has been stated that rats' holes are occasionally made use of; but those I
examined were, I am confident, excavated by the birds themselves. The layer of small fish-bones on which
the young or eggs are found are frequently described as the nest; these bor.es, however, in my opinion, are
simply the castings thrown up by the birds.
Many who are well acquainted willi the appearance of the Kiuglisher as it darts like a Hash of light from
its perch on the penstock or a branch overhanging some small stream during the bright days of summer,
would fail to recognize the dingy-looking bird that would be presented to their view on a dull and gloomy day
in winter, when the stream looks black against the surrounding snow. Under these cireumsfauces a
Kingfisher has more the appearance of a Dipper or Water-Ouzel. I have repeatedly noticed this fact.
C H O U G H .
COMVUS ORACULUS.
Up to the present date I have met with few opportunities for closely studying the habits of this Bprcies. I
was never cnahl.il positively to identify the bird on the south-east roast of Scotland, though they were said to
be occasionally met with when 1 first visited that district, now over twenty years ago. A pair or two were now
and then sighted at a safe distance on the wildest part of the south-west coast, where they wen-, I believe, far
from uncommon ; but 1 remained an almost total stranger (o the Chough till I explored the rocky portions of
the Cornish coast.
The Daw, as this bird is called by the natives (Jackdaws are known as Chaws), is now far from plentiful
in the counly from which it takes its name; and miles of rocky mound along the summits of the dill's may be
passed over without more than a stray bird or two being noticed. During autumn Choughs appear to keep
away from their roost In g-quarters for the whole of the day, seldom showing themselves in the vicinity of the
pluee in which they intend to pass the night fill the afternoon is well advanced. Owing to their scarcity, and
the rocky and impracticable nature of the ground they frequent, I MAT with con-idcrablc difficulties while
endeavouring to gain un insight into the movements OF these birds. As fur as I was able to ascertain, flic FEIV
pairs that BUM under my observation seldom strayed far from the sea-coast, apparently following a regular
and well-known course along flic shore or over the elill's, and only making a halt on any likely spot where food
might present itself. Though I repeatedly examinid, with the greatest care, t h e numerous parties of Kouks
and Jackdaws scattered over the fields within a few miles of the shore, I never detected a single lted-leggeil
Crow among them. If met wilh at a certain hour along the coast, there was but little doubt that, within a
few minutes of the same time, they would make their appearance on the following day. When once well
known. Choughs are readily distinguished at a considerable distance. Their actions on the ground are mure
active, and their walk more sprightly, than those of either the Rook or Jackdaw.
Worms and grubs appear to furnish a considerable portion of (heir diet; and it is seldom one will pass a
lump of cow- or horse-dung without thoroughly mi laHiallllg it. Rapidb sweeping the bill from side to side,
the fragments are scattered in all directions. During the whole operaliun the bird will lie bowing and scraping
in the most amusing manner, and occasionally rising a short distance in the air, at limes uttering its wellknown
cry. The flight of tIn- Chough is al-o slightly different from that of bis sable relatives. Though a pair
may to notieid winging their way along the coast in a straight course, they will frequently pause, wheel
round, and then proceed in an undulating manner, rising and falling to a considerable height ; and, both
in the air and on the laud, the Cornish Daw may be said to conduct himself with a more jaunty bearing than
the rest of the family.
I remarked that a pair which frequented the coast near I'orfhleven paid invariably f unless disturbed) a short
visit duriug the afternoon to a sandy bay, where they remained stalking round the pools of water left by the
tide. What tbod they secured 1 am unable to discover. They also alighted, on more than ono occasion, on a