COMMON KINGFISHER. 



179 



ing the fact that after death the feathers lose much 

 of their brilliancy, and the stuffed Kingfisher would 

 scarcely be taken for the same bird as the beautiful 

 creature whose colours flash and glisten in the golden 

 sunlight. 



The Kingfisher is a shy and retiring bird, and is 



COMMON KINGFISHER. 



usually seen alone. It haunts the quiet streams and 

 pools, the trout streams and ponds, in search of its 

 food. There it may be seen perched on some favourite 

 twig over the water's surface — for it seems to return 

 again and again to the same branch — or flashing 



