302 Spring Nooks in Winter 



prey. If cautiously approached the kingfisher 

 is often slow in taking alarm. It watches the 

 stream so absorbedly that if a human figure once 

 approaches unobserved it will tolerate a good deal 

 of quiet movement before it skims away. The 

 metallic blue of its back depends a good deal on 

 light and movement for its full brilliance ; and as 

 it sits motionless upon a bough, or flies off against 

 the glitter of ice and snow, its colour seems often 

 obscure. Its general appearance is then russet- 

 brown, from the predominance of the chestnut on 

 its breast ; while a feature which becomes most 

 conspicuous is the white patch on the neck. Many 

 people have been puzzled by this appearance of 

 the kingfisher when seen in the high lights of a 

 frosty landscape. 



Often, however, the kingfisher's back flashes as 

 brightly in winter by the river-head as in summer 

 by the deeper channels ; and the animation of the 

 picture is increased by the frequent presence of 

 one or two grey wagtails. Even in its winter 

 plumage, the so-called grey wagtail is brightly 

 washed with yellow ; and it flirts and balances its 

 long tail so as to make the most of its colour. 

 The brilliance of these two birds heightens the 

 vernal impression of the streaming water and 

 vivid watercress beds ; like the gush of the perennial 

 fountain, they seem to defy the frost's rigorous 

 grip, and to keep the flag of summer afloat. One 

 or two pied wagtails are almost always seen about 

 such a spring, and are hardly less cheerful in their 

 attire; and in the temperate landscape and the 



