342 WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



bank is undermined by the water itself, and by the 

 water-rats, while the real edge is concealed by long 

 coarse grasses. These water-rats are for ever endang- 

 ering the bay : they bore their holes at the side through 

 the bank from above and emerge below the hatch. 

 Out of one such hole the water is now rushing, and 

 if it is not soon stopped will wear away the soil and 

 escape in such quantities as to lower the level behind 

 the hatch. These little beaver-like creatures are not, 

 therefore, welcome near hatches and dams. 



If you approach the cover quietly and step over 

 the decayed pole that has been placed to close a gap, 

 by carefully parting the bushes, the kingfisher may 

 be seen in his favourite position. The old pole must 

 not be pressed in getting over it, or the willow " bonds " 

 or withes with which it is fastened to a tree each 

 side of the gap will creak, and the pole itself may 

 crack, and so alarm the bird. The kingfisher perches 

 on the narrow rail that crosses the hatch about two 

 feet above the water. 



Another perch to which he removes now and then 

 is formed by a branch, dead and leafless, which pro- 

 jects across a corner of the bubbling pool below. He 

 prefers a rail or a dead branch, because it gives him 

 a clearer view and better facilities for diving and 

 snatching up his prey as it swims underneath him. 

 His azure back and wings and ruddy breast are not 

 equalled in beauty of colour by any bird native to 

 this country. The long, pointed beak looks half as 

 long as the whole bird : his shape is somewhat wedge- 



