Ceryle rudis (Linn.).
The Pied Kingfisher.
Ceryle rudis (Linn.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 232; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 136.
The Pied Kingfisher breeds everywhere throughout the plains of India, and invariably, I think, in holes of banks overlooking running water, and, as a rule, in those of our larger rivers. It is rare to find a nest anywhere except from 1 to 5 feet above the water-level of some perpendicular earthen cliff, going down straight into the water. Nine times out of ten the nest-hole can only be got at from a boat.
They lay, I know, from the latter end of January to the commencement of April; but I suspect they also lay towards the end of the rains, for Mr. R. M. Adam " found a nest, October 30th, 1866, in a cliff about 18 feet high overhanging the Jumna. The hole was about 4 1/2 feet above water-level, and ran for about 7 feet into the cliff. It contained four young birds able to fly."
The depth of the nest-hole varies according to the nature of the soil, extending to 4 or 5 feet where this is friable and sandy, and scarcely exceeding a foot in stiff clayey banks. Usually the burrow is quite horizontal and about 3 inches in diameter, and terminates iu a chamber some 6 or 7 inches across, in which fish-bones and grass may be found strewed thinly about, but in which I have never seen any approach to a real nest.
Six is the greatest number of eggs I ever saw taken out of a nest, but it is quite common to meet with four or five hard-set eggs in a nest.
Mr. F. R. Blewitt remarks; - " This species breeds from February to probably the middle of April. For its nest it makes a moderately-sized circular hole, extending from 4 to 5 feet in the high clay or sand-bank of a stream or river. At the termination the hole is slightly enlarged for the better reception of the sitting birds. The eggs are simply deposited on the sand. On two occasions I witnessed the birds constructing the hole or nest; they alternately relieved each other at the work, and when tired sat together some short distance off on the opposite bank for a few minutes. On the 8th February last, near Bamah (Raepore District), in the high bank of the Mahanuddee, I found a nest with three fresh eggs, securing with them the parent birds. The length of the hole was about 5 feet. The next day I discovered another nest in the clay bank of a narrow but deep streamlet, with two fresh eggs. The length of the hole was about 3.5 feet.
" From personal experience I cannot affirm what may be the maximum number of the eggs, but last year (in, I think, March) my men found six young birds in a nest in the bank of a small stream. Of Alcedo bengalensis, they found, in the Saugor District, seven unfledged young in a nest."
Mr. Brooks writes:- " I have found the nest of this bird frequently in the banks of the Tonse and Ganges. The nest is about 3 feet in the bank, and some 2 or 3 feet above the water-level, and the hole by which the bird enters is about 2 inches in diameter."
Colonel G. Marshall says :- "This bird is very common in the Saharunpore District; it breeds in the usual places, holes in banks, and lays four shining white eggs. In this part of the country it breeds in March, and the young are hatched early in April.
" I imagine the young birds live with their parents some time after they are fledged, since late in the season I have noticed six or seven of them coming out of a single hole.
" I have noticed a curious fact about this bird ; it is a gregarious breeder, I have taken three sets of eggs from the same hole ; the hole led to a large open sort of cavern about 3 feet across, which was plentifully strewn with grass and rubbish, and the eggs were in different corners of it."
Major Bingham remarks :- Breeds in March both at Allahabad and at Delhi."
Messrs. Davidson and Wenden, writing from the Deccan, say ; - " Common. Apparently breeds at all seasons, except the very hot months."
Mr. Benjamin Aitken sends me the following note; - "At Akola, Berar, in either the end of January or the beginning of February, 1870, my brother took two out of six eggs from a Pied Kingfisher's nest in a river-bank, about two feet above the surface of the water. Although the hole was ranch dug away, the birds continued to sit upon the remaining four eggs, which were duly hatched, and soon after the young were fledged the parent birds took possession of another hole near the first. That bank seemed to be their regular breeding-place and was full of holes. Six eggs were again laid, and six young birds, looking exceedingly fresh and pretty, appeared in due time perched all in a row upon the top of the bank. Nearly a mile down the river there was a bund, and here of course it was easier to catch fish than at the nest where the water was running. So from early morning till late at night the parent birds continued making trips to get food for their young. Each little fish that was brought cost a flight to the bund and back of not much less than two miles, and the voracious fledglings seemed never to be satisfied. As soon, therefore, as the latter were able to go the distance, they were conducted to the bund, where they could be fed with less trouble to the old birds and, I don"t doubt, more satisfaction to themselves. This arrangement was continued for several weeks, the whole family repairing to the bund every morning, and flying back to the nest in the evening. I regret 1 never took the trouble to watch whether they got into the hole to sleep, or took up their positions for the night on the rocks and bushes on the river's hank."
Colonel Legge found this species breeding in Ceylon in March. Its nest-hole was excavated in the earthy banks of the Gindurah.
Mr. Cripps writes from Furreedpore in Bengal:- " Excessively common. A very cheery bird, always on the move. Nests in holes excavated by themselves in river-banks. Length of gallery from 1 1/2 to 4 feet; no lining to egg-chamber. I have taken a clutch of 5 eggs (fresh) on the 26th October, 1877, and found a solitary half-grown young one in another nest, on the same date; the last nest of the season was secured on the 1st March, 1878, with two hard-set eggs and two callow young. These birds stick more to the large rivers, although there may be beels and tanks near."
Mr. J. Inglis remarks from Cachar:- " The Pied Kingfisher is very common throughout the district; it always fishes on the wing. It breeds here about March."
Mr. Oates, writing from Pegu, tells us :- " In Lower Pegu eggs may be taken during the latter half of October and first half of November. Eggs generally five."
The eggs are typically very broad ovals, at times nearly spherical ; not infrequently, however, they are curiously pointed towards one end.
When blown they are a pure china-white and have a high gloss. In length they vary from 1.12 to 1.25 inch, and in breadth from 0.9 to 1 inch, but they average about 1.18 by 0.94 inch.
The Pied Kingfisher.
Ceryle rudis (Linn.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 232; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 136.
The Pied Kingfisher breeds everywhere throughout the plains of India, and invariably, I think, in holes of banks overlooking running water, and, as a rule, in those of our larger rivers. It is rare to find a nest anywhere except from 1 to 5 feet above the water-level of some perpendicular earthen cliff, going down straight into the water. Nine times out of ten the nest-hole can only be got at from a boat.
They lay, I know, from the latter end of January to the commencement of April; but I suspect they also lay towards the end of the rains, for Mr. R. M. Adam " found a nest, October 30th, 1866, in a cliff about 18 feet high overhanging the Jumna. The hole was about 4 1/2 feet above water-level, and ran for about 7 feet into the cliff. It contained four young birds able to fly."
The depth of the nest-hole varies according to the nature of the soil, extending to 4 or 5 feet where this is friable and sandy, and scarcely exceeding a foot in stiff clayey banks. Usually the burrow is quite horizontal and about 3 inches in diameter, and terminates iu a chamber some 6 or 7 inches across, in which fish-bones and grass may be found strewed thinly about, but in which I have never seen any approach to a real nest.
Six is the greatest number of eggs I ever saw taken out of a nest, but it is quite common to meet with four or five hard-set eggs in a nest.
Mr. F. R. Blewitt remarks; - " This species breeds from February to probably the middle of April. For its nest it makes a moderately-sized circular hole, extending from 4 to 5 feet in the high clay or sand-bank of a stream or river. At the termination the hole is slightly enlarged for the better reception of the sitting birds. The eggs are simply deposited on the sand. On two occasions I witnessed the birds constructing the hole or nest; they alternately relieved each other at the work, and when tired sat together some short distance off on the opposite bank for a few minutes. On the 8th February last, near Bamah (Raepore District), in the high bank of the Mahanuddee, I found a nest with three fresh eggs, securing with them the parent birds. The length of the hole was about 5 feet. The next day I discovered another nest in the clay bank of a narrow but deep streamlet, with two fresh eggs. The length of the hole was about 3.5 feet.
" From personal experience I cannot affirm what may be the maximum number of the eggs, but last year (in, I think, March) my men found six young birds in a nest in the bank of a small stream. Of Alcedo bengalensis, they found, in the Saugor District, seven unfledged young in a nest."
Mr. Brooks writes:- " I have found the nest of this bird frequently in the banks of the Tonse and Ganges. The nest is about 3 feet in the bank, and some 2 or 3 feet above the water-level, and the hole by which the bird enters is about 2 inches in diameter."
Colonel G. Marshall says :- "This bird is very common in the Saharunpore District; it breeds in the usual places, holes in banks, and lays four shining white eggs. In this part of the country it breeds in March, and the young are hatched early in April.
" I imagine the young birds live with their parents some time after they are fledged, since late in the season I have noticed six or seven of them coming out of a single hole.
" I have noticed a curious fact about this bird ; it is a gregarious breeder, I have taken three sets of eggs from the same hole ; the hole led to a large open sort of cavern about 3 feet across, which was plentifully strewn with grass and rubbish, and the eggs were in different corners of it."
Major Bingham remarks :- Breeds in March both at Allahabad and at Delhi."
Messrs. Davidson and Wenden, writing from the Deccan, say ; - " Common. Apparently breeds at all seasons, except the very hot months."
Mr. Benjamin Aitken sends me the following note; - "At Akola, Berar, in either the end of January or the beginning of February, 1870, my brother took two out of six eggs from a Pied Kingfisher's nest in a river-bank, about two feet above the surface of the water. Although the hole was ranch dug away, the birds continued to sit upon the remaining four eggs, which were duly hatched, and soon after the young were fledged the parent birds took possession of another hole near the first. That bank seemed to be their regular breeding-place and was full of holes. Six eggs were again laid, and six young birds, looking exceedingly fresh and pretty, appeared in due time perched all in a row upon the top of the bank. Nearly a mile down the river there was a bund, and here of course it was easier to catch fish than at the nest where the water was running. So from early morning till late at night the parent birds continued making trips to get food for their young. Each little fish that was brought cost a flight to the bund and back of not much less than two miles, and the voracious fledglings seemed never to be satisfied. As soon, therefore, as the latter were able to go the distance, they were conducted to the bund, where they could be fed with less trouble to the old birds and, I don"t doubt, more satisfaction to themselves. This arrangement was continued for several weeks, the whole family repairing to the bund every morning, and flying back to the nest in the evening. I regret 1 never took the trouble to watch whether they got into the hole to sleep, or took up their positions for the night on the rocks and bushes on the river's hank."
Colonel Legge found this species breeding in Ceylon in March. Its nest-hole was excavated in the earthy banks of the Gindurah.
Mr. Cripps writes from Furreedpore in Bengal:- " Excessively common. A very cheery bird, always on the move. Nests in holes excavated by themselves in river-banks. Length of gallery from 1 1/2 to 4 feet; no lining to egg-chamber. I have taken a clutch of 5 eggs (fresh) on the 26th October, 1877, and found a solitary half-grown young one in another nest, on the same date; the last nest of the season was secured on the 1st March, 1878, with two hard-set eggs and two callow young. These birds stick more to the large rivers, although there may be beels and tanks near."
Mr. J. Inglis remarks from Cachar:- " The Pied Kingfisher is very common throughout the district; it always fishes on the wing. It breeds here about March."
Mr. Oates, writing from Pegu, tells us :- " In Lower Pegu eggs may be taken during the latter half of October and first half of November. Eggs generally five."
The eggs are typically very broad ovals, at times nearly spherical ; not infrequently, however, they are curiously pointed towards one end.
When blown they are a pure china-white and have a high gloss. In length they vary from 1.12 to 1.25 inch, and in breadth from 0.9 to 1 inch, but they average about 1.18 by 0.94 inch.
