The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-03 00:00:00

The Common Kingfisher,

(From Routiedge's Illustrated Natural Ilistory.)
[CONCLUDED].

The nest of the Kingfisher has long been known to con-
sist of the bones, scales, and other indigestible portions of
the food, which are ejected from the mouth in "castings,"
like those of the hawk or owl ; but until Mr. Gould recently
procured a perfect Kingfisher's nest, its shape and the
manner of construction were entirely unknown. His ac-
count of its discovery, and the ingenious manner in which
it was procured, is so interesting that it must be given in
his own words.

" Ornithologists aro divided in opinion as to whether
the fish-bones found in the cavity in which the Kingfisher
deposits its eggs are to be considered in the light of a
nest, or as merely the castings from the bird during the
period of incubation. Some are disposed to consider these
bones as entirely the castings and faeces of the young brood
of the year before they quit the nest, and that the same
hole being frequented for a succession of years, a great
mass is at length formed; while others believe that
they are deposited by the parents as a platform for the
eggs, constituting, in fact, a nest ; in which latter view I
fully concur, and the following aro my reasons for so
doing:—

" On the 18th of the past month of April, during one of
my fishing excursions on the Thames, I saw a hole in a
precipitous bank, which I felt assured was a nesting-place of
the Kingfisher, and on passing a spare top of my fly rod
to the extremity of the hole, a distance of nearly three
fed, I brought out some freshly-cast bones of fish, con-
vincing me that I was right in my surmise. On a sub-
sequent day, the 9th of May, I again visited the spot with
a spade, and after removing nearly two foot square of the
turf, dug down to the nest without disturbing the entrance
hole or the passage which led to it. Here I found four
eggs placed on the usual layer of fish-bones ; all of these
I removed with care, and then filled up the hole, beating
the earth down as hard as the bank itself, and replacing
the sod on the top in order that barge-horses passing to
and fro might not put a foot in the hole. A fortnight
afterwards the bird was seen to leave the hole again, and
my suspicion was awakened that she had taken to her old
breeding-quarters a second time.
" The first opportunity I had of again visiting the place,
which was exactly twenty-one days from the date of my
former exploration and taking the eggs, 1 again! passed
the top of my fiy-rod up the hole, and found not only that
the hole was of the former length, but that the female was
within. I then took a largo mass of cotton wool from
my collecting-box, and stuffed it to the extremity of the
hole, in order to preserve the eggs and nest from damage
during my again laying it open from above. On removing
the sod and digging down as before, I came upon the
cotton wool, and beneath it a well-formed nest of fish-
bones, the size of a small saucer, the walls of which were
fully half an inch thick, together with eight beautiful eggs
and the old female herself. This nest and eggs I re-
moved with the greatest care, and I now have the pleasure
of exhibiting it to the Society, before its transmission to
the British Museum ; the proper resting-place of so inter-
eating a bird's nest. The mass of bones then, weighing
700 grains, had been cast up and deposited by the bird, or
the bird and its mate, besides the unusual number of eight
eggs, in the short space of twenty-one days.
" To gain anything like an approximate idea of the number
of fish that had been taken to form this xiiss, the skeleton
of a minnow, their usual food, must be carefully made and
weighed, and this I may probably do upon some future
occasion. I think we may now conclude, from what I have
adduced, that the bird purposely deposits these bones as
a nest ; and nothing can be better adapted, as a platform,
to defend the eggs from the damp earth."
Tho Kingfisher, if unmolested, soon learns to be fami-
liar with man, and has no hesitation in carrying on the
daily affairs of its life without heeding the near presence
of a human observer. I have known a Kingfisher to sit
upon a projecting stone that 6?erhung a stream running
at the foot of a garden, and to permit the owners of the
garden to watch its proceedings without exhibiting any
alarm. If managed properly, this interesting bird will so
far extend its confidence to man as to become partially
domesticated, speedily rivalling the robin or the sparrow
in the bold familiarity of its manners. One such bird, that
was tamed by a friend, owed its domestication to the loss
of its parents.

TIMID EDMON.

SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLocK.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.—This

NORTHAMPTON RACES—TIIIS DAY.
BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.
ITAWSLEY PLATE.
The FAWSLEY PLATE of 100 sovs (Handicap); winners
after Sept. 27 (at ten a.m.) 71b extra. One Mile.
Mr. G. Angell's Nukuheva (Sayers) 1
Mr. E. Phillips's Wave (Carver) 2
Betting-7 to 4on the winner. Won easily.
NURSERY PLATE.
The ITARLESTON NURSERY PLATE of 100 BOYS, added to a
Handicap of 3 sovs each 3 ft (to the fund), for two year
olds ; winners of any race after Sept. 27 (at ton a.m.) of
the value of 100 sovs 31b, of two of 100 each or one of
200 51b, of 300 71b extra; the second to save his stake;
Spencer Plate Course.
Count F. de Lagrange's Atalante (Grimshaw) 1.
Mr. R. Porter's Zest (Gordey) 2
Mr. Beadman's aggravator (Clements) 3
Jeannie Deans, Rescue, Stokeley, Killaloe, General
Kinety, Milan, Topsail c, and Venom also ran. Betting-
-3 to 1 agst Atalante, 5 to 1 agst Zest, 6 to 1 each atst .Ag-
gravator, Stokeley, Rescue, and Milan. Won 'by ten
lengths; two lengths between second and third.

FLYING STAKES.
The AUTUMN FLYING STAKES (Handicap) of 5 sous each,
with 40 added ; the second to save his stake ; winners
once after Sept. 27 (at ten a.m.) 71b, twice or a stake
amounting to 200 soya 101 b extra; Althorp Park Stakes
Course ; 12 subs.
Cranbury
Zisca .
Cedric .

3

Five ran. Objection overruled.
CORPORATION PLATE,
The CORPORATION PLATE of 50 sovs, added to a Handicap
of 5 soya each, 1 ft (to the fund); winners after Sept
27 (at ten a.m.) 511) extra. Spencer Plate Course. 49
subs.

Rustic Beauty ... 1
Tragedy
Vigilant
___ _

Won by two lengths.
CASTLE PLATE.
The CASTLE SELLING PLATE Of 30 sovs ; two year old 7st
31b, three 9st 11b, four 9st 121 b, five 10st, six and aged
lOst 21b ; mares and geldings allowed 21b ; the winner to
be sold for 150 sovs ; if entered for 100 sovs allowed 71b,
75 101 b, 50 141 b, 30 211 b ; half a mile, straight.
Mineral
Veni
Anatomist

...... 1
............ 2
Five ran. a
CORINTHIAN PLATE.
The CORINTHIAN PLATE of 40 sovs(Handicap) ; gentlemen
riders, professionals 41b extra ; winners of any handicap
after Sept. 27 (at ten a.m.) 51b extra; the winner of the
Cottesbrooke Welter Handicap at this meeting slb over
and above any other penalty ; one mile.
Nukuheva ..... , 1
Little Ellen .............. 2
TWO-YEAR-OLD PLATE.
The Two YEAR OLD SELLING STARES of 5 soya each,
with 30 added ; colts Bst 101 b. fillies Bst 71b ; winners
before starting 41b extra ; maidens having started twice
and not won allowed 51b, thrice 71b ; the winner to be
sold for 80 sovs ; Althorp Park Stakes Course.
Tribute filly
•••• .
Testy colt
Colenso

a
Eight ran.

KELSO .RACES—Tms DAY.
TRIAL STAKES.

Rhymer
Paxton 2
Honestish
_ a

Seven ran.
CALEDONIAN HANDICAP.

Holstein
Dart 2
Miss Haworth
INNKEEPERS' PLATE.

Murillo 1
Cottago Girl
Four Pan. Won by a length.
CALEDONIAN ST. LEGER. •

Retrousse 1
Lady V ane 2
Honesty
Won by half a length.
PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES.
Nightwatch 1
Dermot Asthore 2
Six ran. Won easy.

TURF AGENCY OFFICE,
100, JERMYN-STREET, ST. JAMES'S, LONDON.

MR. SYDNEY SMITH (Member of Tatter-
sall's) be"s, to inform the racing public ho will
execute COMMISSIONS (by letter only) on all the prin-
cipal races throughout the year. For further particulars
and prices see advertisement in The Sportsman newspaper
every TUESDAY, THURSDAY, and SATURDAY.
Price Current published DAILY, and forwarded on receipt
of stamped directed envelope.
Post-office Orders to be made payable at the Piccadilly
or St. James's street offices, and cheques to be crossed the
"London and Westminster Bank."

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

LONDON, Oct. 3.—Wind this day at noon—North
Easterly ; moderate breeze, and fine weather, but rather
cloudy.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

GRAVESEND, Wednesday Morning.

Arrived, Oct. 2—Alborg, from Wyborg ; Picton, Ellen
Marshall, Niels Ebbesen, Alexander,. Philia, and Caroline,
—all from Cronstadt ; Marcur, from Wismar.

Arrived, Oct. 3 —Union, from Prederickstadt ; Dawn,
from Gronstadt ; Svea, from Svartwick ; Amarante, from
Dantsic ; Perseverance, from Medemblik ; Cambridgeshire,
steamer, from Gronstadt; Orion, from Rotterdam; Rhine,
steamer, from Ostend.

Sailed, Oct. 3—Maria Pia, steamer, for Lisbon.
DEAL, Wednesday Morning.
Passed the back of the Goodwin en the 2a—Wendelina
Ltomenda, from Rotterdam, for Ancona.
Passed—Corelan, barque, from Sundswall for Dartmouth.

The general commercial movement in Rhenish
Bavaria during the year 1865 presents very favour-
able results. Although at that period the treaties
with the Zollverein were too recent to permit of
their effects being judged, the Chamber of Com-
meace in the Palatinate shows that far from justi-
fying the fears which had been conceived, the newstipulations have developed the relations and created
reciprocal advantages which will be
one
ufda
a
appreciated. Several branches of manufactures,
those of linen and leather especially, have
attainedy more
ctures,
a very remarkable degree of prosperity. That pro-
gress appears to have improved the condition of the
poor. Thus the number of peons who were re-
ceiving public relief ten 9 ago was 24,723, and
has now decreased to
19,273, although the popula-
tion in Bavaria has augmented as elsewhere.
The
have declared liquidatorsc
European Bank (Limited)
the European
of 3s. 4d. in the pound
to the creditors, and they believe they will be in a
position make
another payment at the end of the
year. The liabilities, which at the time of the
ared fire otfdivi
stoppage were, including endorsements, about
£2,700,000, are now not more than £600,000.

The latest American invention is a machine for
ruling paper by electricity.

been
splendid
nddaiya
- ERETER, MONDAY, OaCistne.dcl.o.nb—yseTtah!:insineheha:obfitants,
being
(
ifflroe:tt, rejoicing ofiecei nt gl
oihnmEpxuert
purchased
si ttashnedt r ate
hni
tesypiro
bang tai n gs,
carriage through the principal
The
nci
tMheaAynorcieanntdorCdoorr of Forester;poration,th
and other bodies took part in the procession, which was
v.s drawolu tuns t e
coon!
witnessed by upwards of 30,000 persons. On the conclu-
sion of the procession the lifeboat was formally presented
by the Mayor to the National Lifeboat Institution. Mr.
Lewis, the secretary of tho society, on behalf of its com-
mittee, accepted the magnificent gift in appropriate terms.
The Mayoress then named the lifeboat, which was immedi-
ately after launched into the Exo, where its self-righting
and other qualities were under the superintendence of
Captain J. R. Ward, R.N., the inspector of lifeboats of the
institution, tested by the crew, who on this occasion were
man of war's men, and who had been sent specially for
this launch. The whole proceedings appeared to give the
greatest pleasure to the vast multitude who witnessed
them. A public dinner at the Clarence Hotel, and a ball
in the Royal Public Rooms, took place this evening in cel!-
bration of an occasion which will long be remembered in
Exeter. The lifeboat is to bo sent in a day or so to Brix-
ham, where it will be permanently located, and where ar-
rangements have also been made to give it a hearty recep .

tion by the fishermen and others.
GUSTAVE DORt'S DRAWINGS for the illustration of
Milton's "Paradise Lost" are now all complele, and wilt
shortly appear in a folio volume from the press of Messrs
Cassell, Potter, and Galpin.
Da. PUSEY is about to follow up his celebrated
"Eirenicon,' by another volume, which will shortly ap-
pear, entitled, " Cannot Rome Give Authoritative Expla-
nations which the English Church can Accept ?"
M. ALEXANDRE DUMAS the elder, it is said, is
about to become the editor of the paper, Les Nouvelle% irk
which he iuteudo giving a sequel to " Xonto Cluisto," •