BIRD LEGEND AND LIFE 



never by screaming and jumping up and down after the 

 manner of the woodpecker's noisy progeny. 



As time went by the family group grew noticeably 

 smaller. One by one they disappeared, who may guess 

 where? — ^none but their enemies could give the answer — ^till 

 only two of them remained — the strongest and the wariest 

 of them all. Their mother rarely saw them. Possibly she 

 did not know that any were gone, as they had not been to- 

 gether for some time — at least she showed no sign. 



The remaining ones scuttled and flew about among the 

 reeds and willows. Often they wet their feet in the cool 

 water or tumbled into its shady depths as they tried to get 

 some of the living things which they saw there. They were 

 awkward at first, but by and by they became more and more 

 accurate in their calculations. Instinct was their teacher 

 mainly, though they learned some few things by observation. 



After watching their mother drop into the water and 

 come up with a fish, they tried, and after a few trials were 

 able to succeed in like endeavor. At first, refraction both- 

 ered them — the fish was never just where it seemed to be — 

 but they soon learned to make allowances. Even then there 

 were times when they were sure of making a catch, and, just 

 as they were about to do so, the fish turned over and flashed 

 his silvery side on them as a boy flashes a mirror. Then 

 they always missed. There were many things to learn, but 

 with experience for their teacher, and ready memories, they 

 soon learned them. 



Summer waned and the nights grew cold. All the other 

 birds about the pond had departed. Through a fatality 

 which a hawk had occasioned there was only one young king- 

 fisher now. The nights grew colder. Both mother and 

 chUd had to fluff out their feathers considerably and perch 



110 



