AN INTERESTING VISITOR 187 



tree or a plant, or some other harmless thing in 

 Nature, for he again turned his head away to 

 indulge in another short sleep. 



The Kingfisher's back was now turned towards 

 me, and a beautiful bird indeed he showed himself 

 to be, while sitting there with the sun shining on 

 his plumage, an occasional slight movement causing 

 the brilliant colours to change from blue to green 

 and vice versa. Having finished the second short 

 nap, the little bird again shook himself and pro- 

 ceeded to preen his feathers, every now and then 

 stopping in this process to look at me. This was 

 a remarkably pretty study, especially when the 

 bird spread out one wing while finishing his 

 toilet. 



These necessary duties were finished in a few 

 minutes, and he then seemed to desire to take a 

 good look about. Turning round on his perch and 

 facing me, my visitor was possibly again hungry ; 

 for he now flew on to a small branch, and with 

 head bent downward, looked intently at the water 

 about four feet below. In this position he remained 

 for about ten minutes, and had now become so 

 accustomed to my presence that a movement of 

 my head had no disturbing effect. I particularly 

 wished to see him dive for a fish ; but an unwelcome 

 little barking dog came along a footpath not far 



