^290 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



Tattle that had caused the misgivings. We watch him with much inter- 

 ■est as his bright bead-like eyes keenly scan the depths of the lake be- 

 low. Without an instants warning we see a flash of gray and white 

 ■darting downwards and the quiet surface of the water is rufified as this 

 king of fishers disappears beneath. Only an instant is he out of our 

 sight and then with much splashing of water he emerges with a 

 struggling fish held firmly in the grasp of his stout beak. 



F'hoto by C. A. ReeJ. 



HOME OF THE KINGFISHER. 



Proceeding directly to his original perch, after shaking himself, he 

 calmly turns the fish half way around; a convulsive movement of the 

 head and the fish is seen no more, while the fisherman uttering another 

 rasping rattle, his only attempt at a song, starts off for another hunting 

 ground. The Kingfisher does not by any means confine his hunting to 

 the comparatively inactive fish of the lakes and ponds but wanders up 

 and down brooks where fishing is more difficult. 



