KINGFISHER. 5 1 



wings and forked tail purplish, below white. It 

 comes in May, dashing, like an emerald meteor, 

 through the early garden walks, and staying while 

 the late September blossoms ^ distil nectar along 

 the faded borders. The tiny nest, with two 

 diminutive white eggs, is placed on the upper 

 side of a naked Hmb, and formed of the snowy 

 dewn of the prairie willow, but stuccoed outside 

 with the lichens peculiar to the limb on which 

 it is built, so as to completely conceal it from 

 observation. This jewelled mite, so nervous and 

 delicate that if merely taken in the hand it may 

 die of fear, defends its nest with the utmost 

 bravery, dashing, like a mad hornet, at the head 

 of the intruder, and screeching with its sharp 

 squeaky voice as it rushes to the assault. 



kingfisher. 



( Ceryle alcyon) 



Who does not know^ that bold fisherman bird, 

 the Belted Kingfisher, with his great quadrangular 

 bill, his loud chattering laugh, his arrowy flight 

 and his deep -dug hole in the river bank? His 



