AVOOD AND WASTE 43 



Sitting birds may easily be seared from 

 their nests, so it was not until the eggs 

 were hatched that I ventured upon closer 

 inspection; in fact, my first assurance that 

 the smooth, very round, white eggs had 

 changed into naked nestlings was gained by 

 happening suddenly on one of the parents 

 bearing a small inanga (I think) in its 

 bill. We were scarcely five feet apart — 

 for an instant face to face — the next the 

 inanga was gone and the bird was regarding 

 me with the brazen innocence of the school- 

 child detected and who has swallowed his 

 sweetie. 



It was only upon a deeper knowledge of 

 his worth that I could forgive the bird 

 for the deceit thus attempted on a friend, 

 and mentally afford him the more honour- 

 able similitude of the faithful pursuivant, 

 who, rather than betray his sovereign's 

 trust, swallows the incriminating document. 



I may say here that these Kingfishers 

 were my first attempt at bird photography, 

 and that in addition to inexperience I had 

 to contend with a shutter altogether too 

 noisv. 



