98 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



of a tree that came down from the wood, almost 

 touching the edge of the creek, and materially- 

 intercepting my sight of the bird. When I 

 fired I had no idea of the result of my shot, for I 

 could see nothing come down. As I climbed up 

 the embankment, preparatory to departure for the 

 hotel, I thought I would just cast one farewell 

 glance up the creek from a bridge that spanned the 

 sluice. To my astonishment, I saw something blue 

 lying in the mud ! on the edge of the creek. 

 Reader, the tale is told — it was the Kingfisher ! and 

 my luck, after much patience and perseverance, had 

 come at last. They say everything comes to him 

 who waits. So it was in this instance, for I had 

 waited nearly two months. 



Exactly one week had elapsed after the above 

 event when I was lucky enough to secure my 

 second bird. One frosty bright day in the early 

 days of November I took train to a station up the 

 line and walked back part of the way towards my 

 hotel until I came to a little mountain stream, which 

 runs under a bridge to the estuary, about a quarter 

 of a mile above the sluice where I obtained my first 

 Kino-fisher. Underneath this bridge is a favourite 

 place for lying in wait for Ducks during the winter 

 season, for they come up feeding with the tide, 

 which, when the springs are on, reaches even 

 beyond the bridge. 



The concealment here is perfect on account of 

 the wooden supports to the bridge, which run up at 

 every sort of angle ; but although it is a splendid 



