Shooting Kingfishers. 349 
of the mound. The brook had worn itself a deep 
channel, and so required a hatch to bring it up toa 
level convenient for cattle. I had known for some 
time that there was a nest in that mound from. the 
continued presence of the two old birds; but could 
not find it. But when the young could fly a little 
they appeared on this branch projecting almost over 
the falling water, and there they took up their station 
day after day. Every now and then the parents came 
with small fish, which they caught farther down the 
brook, for just in that place there were only a few 
perch and perhaps a tench or two. The colours are 
much less brilliant on the young birds, and they do 
not obtain the deep rich hues of their parents until 
the following spring. I have shot many young birds 
in the winter ; they are by that time much improved 
in colour, but may be distinguished without difficulty 
from the full-grown bird. 
Though so swift, the kingfisher is comparatively 
easy to shoot, because he flies as straight as an arrow; 
and if you can get clear of bushes or willow-pollards 
he may be dropped without trouble. When disturbed 
the kingfisher almost invariably flies off in one 
favourite direction ; and this habit has often proved 
fatal to him, because the sportsman knows exactly 
which way to look, and carries his gun prepared. 
Wherever the kingfisher’s haunt may be, he will be 
found upon observation to leave it nearly always in the 
same direction dayafter day. Heis, indeed, a bird with 
