348 Wild Life in a Southern County. 
and brook was about 400 yards, so that the parent 
birds had to carry the fish they captured nearly a 
quarter of a mile. The sawpit, too, was close to a lane 
used a good deal, though sheltered by a thick hedge 
from the observation of those who passed. 
In another case I knew of,the kingfishers built in 
a mound overhanging a small stagnant and muddy 
pond, in which there were no fish, and which was 
within twenty paces of a farmhouse. The house was 
Situate on a hill about three hundred yards from the 
nearest running stream. This little pond was full in 
wet weather only, and was constantly used by the 
horses, the cattle in the field that came almost up to 
the door, and by the tame ducks. Beside the pond 
was a wood pile, and persons were constantly passing 
it to and fro. Yet the kingfishers built there and 
reared their young; and this not only for one season, 
but for several years in succession. They had to bring 
all the fish they captured up from the brook, over the 
garden, and to pass close to the house. Why they 
should choose such a place is not easily explained, 
seeing that so many apparently more suitable locali- 
ties were open to them along the course of the 
Stream. 
One summer I found a family of four young king- 
fishers perched in a row on a dead branch crossing 
a brook which ran for some distance beside a double- 
mound hedge. There was a hatch just there too, 
forcing the water into two ponds, one each side 
