30 A CATALOGIIE OF THE BIRDS 



in the same locality, and tMnking that a nest was not far off, I 

 again concealed myself amidst the foliage. I had not watched 

 long before I saw the bird with rapid, flutteriag wings, poised 

 in the air, about thirty feet above the water ; the body was at 

 an angle of about forty-five degrees, the tail downwards ; in a 

 few seconds the body gradually became horizontal, and then, as 

 if tiu'ning on a pivot, the head was pointed in the direction of 

 the water, and in an instant the bird shot down to the surface : 

 it did not however succeed in capturing a fish. It made another 

 unsuccessful attempt, exactly ia the same manner, and then dis- 

 appeared behind some bushes, but, in the course of a minute or 

 two returned, carrying a fish, which it bore off to some roots of 

 an alder tree overhangiug the bank, where probably its nest was 

 concealed. 



This very pretty method of fishing does not appear to have 

 been noticed by ornithologists ; at least the Kingfisher is usually 

 described as taking its prey by dropping headlong into the water 

 from some overhanging branch or twig, or other elevated position. 

 This method of fishing I have also frequently witnessed. 



Familt. CERTHIID^, Bonaparte. 

 27. SITTA, Linnoius. 



10. ITtjthatch. S. Eiteop^a, Lirmceus. 



Sitta Europfsa, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, I., 285. 



,, Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, II., 183. 



I know of no instance of the occurrence of this bird in JSTorth- 

 umberland. Thirty or forty years ago it bred regularly in the 

 Bishop's Park at Bishop Auckland, but it is no longer to be found 

 there. It is now a rare casual visitant. 



28. CERTHIA, Linnmis. 



11. Cheeper. C. familtaris, Linnmis. 

 CerthiafamiUaris, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, I., 287. 



Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, II., 165. 



To bo found thi'oughout the district wherever wood prevails. 

 A resident. 



