THE BELTED KINGFISHER 



tempting, for that picture cost me the highest price I ever paid 

 for any study, with the exception of one landscape. 



"Cover the hole with your hat until something can be found 

 to stop it," I said. Raymond in his eagerness splashed through 

 the frog-pond to do as he was told. A piece of sod securely 

 stopped the opening. Then I figured on the light and where my 

 camera must stand. Of course the location fell in the frog-pond. 

 There was no way to place the camera, so we began carrying 

 stumps and rotten logs to build a foundation. When we had a 

 fairly solid basis we brought rails from the fence near by, laying 

 them lengthwise and then across until we had a solid platform 

 above the water. Then I set up my tallest step-ladder, placed 

 an eight-by-ten camera on top, focussing on the opening. The 

 camera was exactly right, so I put in a plate, attached the sixty- 

 foot hose, tossing the bulb on the embankment. 



Then I went in front, set the shutter at a snap, and climbed 

 up to remove the sod. Raymond crowded close behind me to 

 help. We broke into a colony of digger wasps. They swarmed 

 all over us. Raymond had one on his ankle, also on his arm. I 

 had one on my arm and one down the back of my neck inside my 

 linen collar. I do not remember that anything ever hurt me 

 more. It was the middle of June, our time of most intense heat; 

 I had worked carrying rails and logs until my blood was over- 

 heated, while the sting was on my spine, close the base of the 

 brain. I was so paralyzed that it was some time before I could 

 move to doctor Raymond with wet clay. 



I sent him into the willows in front of the nest, gave him some 

 lunch and water, telling him to sleep or do anything save make a 

 movement. If he happened to see the young coming he was to 

 signal me. Then I went up on that embankment, lay down, 

 hung my chin over the edge and fixed my eyes on the tunnel. 

 Fifty times the youngsters came close enough that I could catch 



181 



