UGANDA JOURNAL.


utter its loud cry like the sound of a watchman's rattle. This bird's favourite diet
is grasshoppers. March is the only month in which I have found the species
breeding.
 The Malachite or Crested Kingfisher (Corythornis cristata) is fairly common
 and inhabits a great part of Uganda. It can often be seen on low twigs or papyrus
 overhanging the water's edge, and when disturbed its rattling cries sound as if it
 were very vexed at the sudden disturbance. They have keen sight and with their
 electric-blue colouring they look like meteors in their flights over the water. They
 suddenly check their fight in mid-air to make a spiral plunge into the water after
 their prey, then they return to a suitable perch and knock the small fish, frogs
 or water-insects they have captured against the perch a few times before swallowing
 them. These birds usually nest in May, June and November, and lay three to
 four eggs.
 The beautiful little Pigmy Kingfisher (Ispidina picta), that flashes and glitters
 with every movement, is of a lovely orange and most intense blue. It is com-
 monest on Lake Victoria and other lakes of Uganda, especially on the edges of
 papyrus swamps. It flutters up and down, calling with a very feeble note, and
 dashes into the water with a splashing thud after small fish, frogs, shrimps and
 water-insects. It is very solitary in its habits and never assembles in numbers.
 These birds seem to choose areas which they consider their own and in which
 they resent intrusion by another of their kind; it is not an uncommon sight to
 see two of them engaged in conflict, like sparkling gems whirling through the air.
 They nest in January, March, May, August and September, and usually lay
 three eggs.
 Another'larger species of kingfisher is the Pied or Black and White King-
fisher (Ceryle rudis), which is remarkable for the tinting from which it derives its
name and which is in great contrast to the brilliant hues which decorate the
majority of kingfishers. It is very common in many parts of Africa.
 The habits of the Pied Kingfisher are totally different from those of the
majority of kingfishers, as it is social instead of being solitary. Numbers are to
be seen fishing together and using the same breeding-grounds. Their mode of
fishing is also quite different from that of other kingfishers, because they are.the
only East African species that hovers over the water like a kestrel, with head and
beak pointing down to the surface of the water. When hovering they change
their position from time to time in search of finny prey and once they see a fish
near the surface they plunge head foremost into the water like a stone. If, the
fish is a very small one it is swallowed at once, but the larger ones are carried to
the bird's favourite perch, beaten several times against the bough, and then
swallowed without any trouble.
 The courting days are punctuated by much squawking and twittering, chas-
ing and querulous abuse. The momentous decision and choice once made,
there is a lot of work to be done and many feet of digging to make the necessary
nesting sites. A suitable bank on the lake shore is found and several pairs make
their nests in the same long bank.
 To the onlooker the making of these homes appears a big task, but the
kingfishers seem to accomplish it with no very great difficulty. Their powerful"
beaks cut their way easily, the loose matter being pushed out by the feet.