Bird Study 103 



7. What is the note of the kingfisher? Does it give it while perching 

 or while on the w r ing? Do you ever find more than one kingfisher on the 

 same fishing grounds? 



Supplementary reading -The Second Book of Birds, Chapter XXX; 

 "The Halycon Birds," Child's Study of the Classics; Audubon Leaflet 

 No. 19; "Kooskosemus," Secrets of the Woods, Long. 



THE KIXGFISHER (OF EXGLAXD) 



For the handsinne Kingfisher, go iwt to the tree, 

 Xo bird of the field or the forest is he; 

 In the dry river rock he did never abide, 

 And not on the brown heath all barren and wide. 



He lives where the fresh, sparkling u'aters are fioieing, 

 Where the tall heavy Typha and Loosestrife are growing; 

 By the bright little streams that all joyfully run 

 Awhile in the shadoiv, and then in the sun. 



He lives in a Iwle that is quite to his mind, 

 \Vith tlie green mossy Hazel roots firmly entwined; 

 Where the dark Alder-bough ivaves gracefully o'er, 

 And the Sword-flag and Arrow-head grow at his door. 



There busily, busily, all the day long, 

 He seeks for small fishes the shallows among; 

 For lie builds his nest of the pearly fish-bone, 

 Deep, deep, in the bank, far retired, and alone. 



Then the brown Water-Rat from his burrow looks out, 

 To sec what his neighbor Kingfisher's about: 

 And the green Dragon-fly, flitting slowly away, 

 Just pauses one moment to bid him good-day. 



O happy Kingfisher! What care should he know, 

 By the clear, pleasant streams, as he skims to and fro, 

 l\'ow lost in the shadoiv, nmv bright in the sheen 

 Of the hot summer sun, glancing scarlet and green! 



MARY HOWITT. 



