THE LONE FISHER 



ward to better times? Though the future held many sorrows 

 in store for them they could not foresee them. The joys, only, 

 they anticipated, thus doubling their happiness. 



When their establishment was completed it was snug, 

 warm and comfortable, a home for any weather. After six 

 white eggs were laid, there began a long and weary season 

 of staying at home for the little dame, compelled by necessity 

 to spend much of her time in keeping the eggs warm. In 

 this, even, she was assisted by her mate, who shared in the 

 duties of incubation. 



The air was bad and the place dark, with no means of 

 ventilating or lighting it. She could reach out in any direc- 

 tion and touch the wall. Talk of narrow environment! The 

 mere thought of such living would be imendurable to a 

 hvmian creature, but the kingfishers viewed the matter in 

 an entirely different light. The place was as comfortable as 

 they could make it, and the only sort of a home suitable for 

 the needs of the infant brood soon to dwell there. When the 

 little dame's bones ached too much from occupying the 

 cramped position necessary, she went outside for a little 

 while to stretch her weary limbs, and, incidentally, caught a 

 fish or two, breathed in a little ozone, and viewed the beauti- 

 ful outside world, where later in the season she hoped to find 

 much enjoyment with her family. 



For her spouse it was a season of equal loneliness. 

 Though he kept the eggs warm while she was out on brief 

 vacations, during the greater part of the day he sat on a 

 bough of a neighboring tree, usually silent and motionless, 

 but, now and then, when fish were scarce, he left his post long 

 enough to capture an insect or field-mouse careless enough 

 to come within range. ^Tienever seen he was certain to be 

 alone, and if on his perch, with eyes fixed on the water. Oc- 



95 



