KINGFISHEKS. 9 



bathing-place tells me that they go up to breed in ditches which 

 run down to the Cherwell from the direction of Marston and 

 Elsiield; and this is perhaps borne out by the discovery of 

 a nest by a friend of mine, then incumbent of Woodeaton, in 

 a deserted c[uarry between that village and Elsfield, fully a mile 

 from the river. One would suppose, however, that the birds 

 would be about the river, if only to supply their voracious young 

 with food, unless we are to conclude that they feed them 

 principally with slugs and such small-fry. Here is a point which 

 needs investigation. The movements of the Kingfisher seem to 

 be only partly understood, but that they do migrate, whether for 

 short or long distances, I have no doubt whatever. On the 

 Evenlode, another Oxfordshire river, which runs from Moreton- 

 in-the-Marsh to join the Isis at Eynsham, they are rarely to be 

 seen between March and September, or August at the earliest, 

 while I seldom take a walk along the stream in the winter 

 months without seeing one or more of them. 



This bird is one of those which owe much to the Wild-birds 

 Act, of which a short account will be found in my last chapter. 

 It may not be shot between March and August, and though it 

 may be slaughtered in the winter with impunity, the gun- 

 licence and its own rapid flight give it a fair chance of escape. 

 Formerly it was a frequent victim : 



By green Kother's reedy side 



The blue Kingfisher flashed and died. 



Blue is the prevailing tint of the bird as he flies from you ; 

 it is seldom that you see him coming towards you, but should 

 that happen, the tint that you chiefly notice is the chestnut of 



