240 GREEN TRAILS AND UPLAND PASTURES 



down the willow aisles, flashing as white sometimes 

 as the occasional birches which stab their reflection 

 into the dark water, the turtles plopping off logs as the 

 boat draws near, or thrusting out inquiring heads to 

 watch it pass. The proud-crested kingfisher is the 

 over-lord of our rivers, as the turkey buzzard patrols 

 the red rivers of the South. Whether sitting high on a 

 limb overhanging the water, or flying down the green 

 aisle ahead, or swooping for a fish, this beautiful bird is 

 seldom absent from the vista to give it a characteristic 

 .touch. The kingfishers, indeed, seem to have each 

 his well-defined river beat, and if one bird encroaches 

 on the fish preserves of his neighbour upstream there is 

 trouble at once. He is driven back with a great noise 

 and flutter, and as soon as he is back on his own ground 

 he is just as quick to turn and drive out his neighbour. 

 Often the kingfisher will fly ahead of your boat, alight- 

 ing on tree after tree, as if afraid to pass you; but ulti- 

 mately he will get up courage, fly over your head, and 

 return to the point where you first flushed him. I have 

 never known a kingfisher to continue with the boat in- 

 definitely. Sooner or later they always re f .urn, and 

 you will often find each bird at the old spot when you 

 come back upstream. 



Another bird characteristic of our northern waters 

 is the blue heron, which lives alike on the rivers and by 

 the salt ponds making in from the sea. The baby 

 herons attain a very considerable size before they 



