170 BIRDS 



whence they plunge in to secure their prey. Their feeble 

 little piping note is much like that of our English king- 

 fisher, but though very soft it often directs one's attention 

 to these lovely little birds as they dart past. 



About the size of a sparrow, but, of course, of different 

 appearance, with short tail and enormous bright red 

 beak, these birds have lovely orange and deep blue 

 plumage. 



Natives say that if one comes near their house it is an 

 omen that some one is going to die j and it was a curious 

 coincidence on Bugalla that when one of my canoe-men 

 was ill vrith. pneumonia one of these birds was frequently 

 noticed in the camp, although I had not seen it there 

 before. 



I did not know the superstition until some time after 

 this. Fortunately the canoe-man recovered ; perhaps if 

 he had known the bird of evil omen was there the issue 

 would have been less satisfactory ! 



Another kingfisher, of different habits, is Halcyon 

 senegahnsis, whose large beak and legs of crimson contrast 

 beautifully -^-ith its sky blue wings and back and grey 

 under surface. This is a forest or bush frequenting species 

 which has given up a fish diet in favour of large grass- 

 hoppers. 



Sitting on a branch it watches the grass for movements 

 and then pounces down on a " Janzi " grasshopper which 

 it carries back to the perch. Here the unfortunate bulky 

 insect is banged against the branch until it is in the right 

 condition to be swallowed whole. This kingfisher has a 

 loud and cheerful cry. It commences with a sharp high- 

 pitched note which is followed by a churring descent down 

 the scale, and on a bright sunny morning this familiar 

 sound may be heard over and over again. 



I saw an interesting little incident on Kerenge in 1914. 

 One of these birds was angrily scolding on a perch which he 

 considered to be his, but the justice of the claim was 



