BIRDS OF THE RIVER 345 



The Kingfisher, akhough it invariably feeds 

 about the water, often travels far afield in search 

 of a breeding site. INIany instances are given of 

 nests found in the banks of gravel or chalk pits 

 a mile or more from the river which forms its 

 constant haunt. 



As the angler rests in the green gloom of the 

 densely overshadowing trees, surrounded by the 

 swirling current, the shyest birds cease to treat him 

 as an alien. Thus the Kingfisher constantly alights 

 on the dead bough which droops over the stream 

 barely a dozen paces away. It remains quite mo- 

 tionless, with head depressed, watching the water. 

 Suddenly it drops like a flash of blue light, sheer 

 into the tide. The movement is so quick that the 

 bird can hardly be said to disappear, for in a 

 moment more, it is seen winging its way to the 

 higher bank with a tiny fish in its bill. If it can 

 be followed it will be seen to strike its prey sharply 

 against some rock or branch, and then, with a 

 dexterous twist in the air, to seize and swallow it 

 headforemost. 



Although the Kingfisher is still to be found on 

 most English streams the constant persecution to 

 which it is subject tells seriously upon its numbers. 

 Its habit of darting like an arrow beneath low 

 bridges renders it liable to almost certain destruc- 

 tion, for an invisible net drawn across the open 

 space beneath, will intercept the passage of every 

 bird in the locality. This practice, once common 

 in Yorkshire, has been fortunately put an end to; 

 most of the Kingfisher's haunts being strictly pre- 

 served in the interests of the trout, and the presence 



