242 Northern Observations of Inland Birds 



of these they fly during fishing hours, and having found 

 the time and the place one may see the same bird day after 

 day. I remember one used to frequent a protruding 

 branch rising from the bed of the River Ken, far out 

 from either shore. I saw him there almost daily through- 

 out one spring and summer, but that fall a spate bore 

 the tree away, and one wonders whether the kingfisher 

 met the fate of Bret Harte's gentleman whose front door 

 step was treacherously removed. 



The eggs of the kingfisher are colourless, as are those 

 of most birds which lay in the dark, and in manner 

 and in voice the bird has much in common with the 

 dipper. Compared with the latter, however, it is a 

 melancholy httle soul, and though it possesses a strange, 

 rather harsh warble uttered the season through, the song 

 does not possess the heedless, discordant gaiety of that 

 of the dipper. We must love the kingfisher for its bright 

 plumage, but in truth it plays but a very passing part 

 in our lives. 



When at one time of my life I interested myself in the 

 rearing of young trout, this bird was certainly the worst 

 of our foes. They knew exactly at what hour the keeper 

 came to feed his charges, and chose their own time 

 accordingly. When we took to coming at all hours, they 

 took to visiting the hatchery with the very first light of 

 morning, before the skylark was fairly astir, and we 

 found it impossible to keep them away. In this connection 

 the harmless and peace-loving water vole proved a great 

 nuisance, for no matter what pains were taken in enclosing 

 the rearing ponds with wire-netting, the voles made a 

 way in, and the kingfishers followed them. In the end, 

 and much against our own inclinations, we were reduced 

 to trapping and shooting the birds, but having killed 

 eight we gave it up as too inhumane, for still more came. 

 I had no idea how plentiful kingfishers are till I came 

 to rear young trout. 



