HOURS WITH NATURE. 



perched on an over-hanging branch of a tree. It was 

 sitting perfectly motionless and still, as if intently watch- 

 ing for something. Its head, face, the sides of the neck, 

 body, and the upper part of the abdomen were chestnut 

 brown ; the chin, throat, middle of the neck, breast, 

 and abdomen pure white ; the beak, and feet were red. 



It is a kingfisher. 1S;O, that cannot be, said another* 

 the kingfisher has a. black head, with white lines above the 

 eyes ; its back and wings are also black with white edgings ; 

 besides, it is a larger bird than the one sitting there. 



Both of you arc mistaken, broke in a third ; the 

 kingfisher is a common and familiar bird, frequenting 

 > rivers, tanks, nullahs^ and water-courses. In fact, wher- 

 ever there is water, be it in river or pond, or in a 

 roadside ditch, there, one may he sure to find one or 

 two of these tiny birds flitting about from branch to 

 branch. It is a small bird, much smaller than the one 

 sitting yonder. 



Our discussion was interrupted by a merry peal of 

 laughter suddenly ringing in our ears, and on look- 

 ing about to ascertain its cause, we were rather discon- 

 certed to find that it was at our expense. One of the 

 oarsmen, a strapping lad of seventeen or thereabout, 

 was attentively listening to our discourse about the 

 identity of kingfishers. Being naturally intelligent and 

 observant, he had improved his opportunities by taking 

 mental notes of the habits and characteristics of birds and 

 beasts which he chanced to meet in his roving life, and 

 wfcs conscious too of his knowledge \ so that, our ignor- 



