58 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



easily induce the birds to remain to breed. 

 He would be well repaid by their beauty, 

 the interest of the tunnelling operations, 

 the varying calls of the birds, and the 

 working of their connnissariat department. 



As has been told, each of the two arti- 

 ficial log sections placed in the vicinity of 

 the original nest was attempted, each was 

 explored and bored. The third block, too, 

 was burrowed into, and almost certainly by 

 another pair of birds. 



These sites, I am convinced, were only 

 not completely utilised because they were 

 not exactly suitable, but next season, **if 

 its de las' act," as Uncle Remus says, my 

 Kingfishers shall have everything they 

 require, blocks suitably decayed, three feet 

 long by two in diameter, placed five or six 

 feet above the ground, and sloped sufficiently 

 to run off the rain. The logs shall, more- 

 over, be augured three inches or so slightly 

 upwards, and as a further precaution, 

 capped and wrapped mth ruberoid.* 



Note. — Neither of the timber yards in Napier hold any 

 stock of suitably decayed blocks of white pine, nor can they 

 be had at the country sawmills. Sometimes in the Colonies 

 the most necessary articles are cot easily procurable. 



