52 BIRD BIOGRAPHIES 



morning the two parents work hard, 

 and capture fish at intervals of five or 

 six minutes ; but as the middle of the 

 day approaches they slacken in their 

 work, and the male bird will sit for 

 a long time on a branch over the nest. 

 This day, the third of June, I have 

 been watching them take food to the 

 young, and I noticed, as I have done 

 on previous occasions, that between 

 ten-thirty and twelve o'clock the birds 

 do not bring many fish to their young. 

 The male bird, looking resplendent in 

 his glorious plumage, sat on the branch 

 near the nest ; his feathers were ruffled, 

 and he was huddled up on the branch 

 looking as if he was thoroughly tired. 

 The hen was sitting near him, with a 

 fish in her beak, but she did not seem in 

 any hurry to take this to the young, and 

 eventually she flew away without taking 

 it to them. By the time another hour 

 had gone by both birds were busy again, 



