158 COMMON BIRDS OF AN INDIAN GARDEN 



warily approached the surface of the water. Often 

 enough the prey escapes, and then it is pretty to 

 see the bird return to its perch, shake off a shower 

 of glittering drops, preen its feathers, and then settle 

 down once more to its vigil. When disturbed whilst 

 fishing, they dart suddenly off, uttering keen little 

 cries of alarm and flying round and round for some 

 time over the water before returning to their perch 

 or taking up a new one elsewhere. Most of their 

 fishing is carried on in the way just described ; but 

 now and then one will remain for some time on 

 the wing, darting about hither and thither over 

 the water, occasionally hanging and hovering on 

 trembling wings, and then descending with a sound- 

 ing splash, until, having secured a fish, it makes off 

 with it to a convenient dining-room. When fishing 

 in this way, their presence is often first revealed by 

 the water, as their small quivering bodies are almost 

 invisible to lateral vision against a shaded back- 

 ground of foliage, while their reflected images stand 

 out in sharp relief against the mimic sky of the glassy 

 surface of the pond. 



They fly at a great pace, looking like living 

 streaks of blue or brown as their upper or under 

 surfaces present themselves to view ; but, when 

 sitting quietly and projected upon a background 

 of dull green foliage, they might readily escape 

 notice were it not for the brilliantly metallic streak 

 of light blue on the back, and the vividly white 



