KINGFISHl.K. 51 



winj^s and forked tail purplish, hcluw while. It 

 comes in May, dashini^', like an emerald meteor, 

 throiiL^di the early ^^arden walks, and stayinj; while 

 the late Se[)tenil)er blossoms distil nectar aloni^ 

 the faded borders. The tiny nest, with two 

 diminutive white eggs, is placed on the up[)er 

 side of a naked limb, and formed of the snowy 

 down of the prairie willow, but stuccoed outside 

 with the lichens jjeculiar to the limb on which 

 it is built, so as to completel)' conceal it froiVi 

 observation. This jewelled mite, so nervous and 

 delicate that if merel)' taken in the hand it may 

 die of fear, defends its nest with the utmost 

 bravery, dashing, like a mad hornet, at the head 

 of the intruder, and screeching with its sharp 

 squeak}- voice as it rushes to the assault. 



Jlincjfishci'. 



( Ceryle alcyou) 



Who does not know that bold fisherman bird, 

 the Belted Kingfisher, with his great t[uadrangular 

 bill, his loud chattering laugh, his arrowy flight 

 and his deep -dug hole in the river bank? His 



