r)6 BIRDS OF THE AVATER 



tiivn they attempted one after another of 

 the willows, some of these the oldest on the 

 run and full of holes, though not the holes 

 that Kingfishers would select unless hard 

 pressed indeed. 



On November 23rd I note, "Kingfishers 

 again at original willow snag." On No- 

 vember 25th, "Boring again in fowl rmi." 



On December 7th great Hying to and fro 

 and exultant screaming announced the fact 

 that in the fowl run the old pine bole had 

 fallen in the previous night's gale. The 

 Inrds were evidently hopeful that all this 

 splintered timber on the ground must surely 

 mean a suitable yard or two of rotten 

 wood. 



On December 18th they were still about 

 the homestead, still loath to desert the scene 

 of their former successful incubations. 



On Januar\' 10th and for some days 

 afterwards both birds were again about the 

 homestead. They were evidently not sit- 

 ting. In early February they were still 

 about the place. I believe, in fact, they 

 did not breed during the season of 1909- 

 1910. The seizure, therefore, of their 



