22 EARLY SPRING: 
time to time they would give tongue to their 
feelings by a loud trumpet-like note. Nesting 
having just commenced, they were very 
restless, and guarded their mates very 
jealously (they do not change every year), 
or kept off rivals from their accustomed 
nesting spots. The beautiful flute-like notes 
of the blackbird were borne across the water 
now and then. Some wagtails chirped and 
flitted busily about, with looping flight, as is 
their manner. A _ kingfisher darted from 
the bank as we drew near. He flew quickly 
away in a Straight line, and was not seen 
again. We saw some recent tunnelling at 
the foot of an old tree stump, and thought 
this might have been made by a pair of the 
birds as the beginning of a nest hole, for 
they Jay their eggs in such places ; but there 
was nothing further done there.1 The green- 
finch’s merry chirps were often heard, and a 
thrush kept singing in a bush. All these 
birds had felt the genial influence of the sun, 
and were showing their joy at the return of 
1 (See Part I, pp. 75-76.) 
