BEHIND THE VEIL IN BIRDLAND 



Both birds are swift fliers, and, when the enemy thinks he can 

 make a final strike at his quarry, the latter will suddenly dive 

 in the water and so elude him. 



On one interesting occasion the Kingfisher was seen to dive 

 three times, and eventually by the aid of my friends, who were 

 watching this exciting hunt, the Sparrow Hawk was driven away 

 and the rather terrified but plucky Kingfisher escaped. Five years 

 ago one of these birds, to escape an enemy, flew through a 

 bedroom window in the town of Enfield. It was found in the 

 room uninjured, and after escaping one death it almost suffered 

 the penalty of having its neck wrung afterwards to be stuffed and 

 placed in the hat of the lady who discovered it ; but on reminding 

 her of the penalty for killing a protected bird, it was handed over 

 to me, and I gave the bird its freedom close to a secluded brook, 

 where no doubt it found a happy home. 



Cbm 



66 



