LETTER XIII 



Kingfisher Hovering of Kingfisher Destructiveness of Birds 

 Heavy Rains Fall of Leaves Preparations for Winter amongst 

 Worms, Snails, and Birds Stork's -bill Seed: its moving 

 power Mushrooms Superstition as to Mushrooms Green 

 Woodpecker J. C. Hook, R.A. 



ist November 1886. 



DEAR MARCO I am not likely to forget 

 you down here, as the birds continually 

 remind me of you ; whenever I see any of 

 them doing something odd or interesting, 

 I long for your presence. The other day I 

 witnessed what was to me quite a novelty 

 in the actions of the kingfisher ; this bird, as 

 you no doubt know, generally sits on some 

 coign of vantage overhanging the edge of the 

 stream, darting at its prey head first, and 

 making off with it in its mouth when success- 

 ful. The one I saw acted differently ; the 

 river was swollen with rain, and the bird 



