- 8 - Habitat: Open meadows where large trees for perches are near. On Tinian, favors the long lines of acacias that stretch across the open country. (Apparently these acacias were used as boundary markers.) Perch on bare high branches overlooking meadows or on telephone wires. A frequent item of necessity in the habitat is a large gnarled densely-foliated tree. Apparently, used for nesting. On Tinian, I took a trip one afternoon down a hillside road, and stopped the truck at every such dense dark green gnarled tree. There was on about every 2 - 300 yards. Here would be a kingfisher in each, which I wouldn't see until he became curious enough to drop down into view. (This was 14 Apr) This happened at about 5 trees. In each case, the bird was somewhere in the interior of the tree and couldn't be seen from the road. I couldn't account for the fact that there was only one bird at each tree, because they are usually in pairs. These birds are also found in timbered canyons. But they make long flights, and on these islands there is always open country adjacent to almost any timbered canyon where kingfishers are found. The commonest I have seen them is at Marpo Valley, Tinian, where there is open swampy ground with a lot of large breadfruit trees, spaced far apart. The preference for dense gnarled trees mentioned above must indicate that they nest in cavities in such trees. However the only nest I have actually seen is in a road bank of red soil on Saipan. There are two cavities there, one contained young in August 45. Food calls could be heard from the hole, 6 7 ft above the level of the road, and the old birds were usually flushed when we drove past. Both the holes are the same heightth and same construction. Opening about 3 " diam at first, but widened due to constant use, and claw marks indicated the source of the widening. Tunnel slants upward at about 15 degree angle for about 6 or 8 inches, then widens out into a large room, which I couldn't see well. The slant protects the nest from rain. I have seen kingfishers enter holes in coconut trees at Magicienne bay, Saipan. I presume that the holes in the road bank were excavated by the birds, but I doubt if the tree holes were. Mating: When more than two birds get together, 3 - 5, there is much noise. The birds fly around at great heights calling and following each other in large circles, then go off in straight flight over canyons and ridges for great distances. A mating display often seen consists of the loud calls given my the bird in flight as he approaches a tree where another is sitting. As he alights, he stands with the body vertical the head and neck stretched out horizontally, the wings slightly outstretched, and the tail held about 90 degree to the back (this results in the tail and neck being horiaontal and theback vertical). This postition is held forseveral minutes, even after the bird stops calling.