52 BIRD PARADISE 



the oven bird. The song has a domestic flavor 

 like that of the tree sparrow, and is certainly a 

 credit to the singer. I give them the full freedom 

 of my small city, knowing that they can be trusted 

 anywhere in its streets and houses. 



Occasionally I see the kingfisher watching the 

 gateways of our ponds and creeks. What an 

 active, contented sportsman he is. Like other 

 sportsmen, he fails now and then to strike the 

 quarry, but it in no way dampens his ardor. 

 Fishing with him is a business and he follows it 

 with zeal whether the returns be large or small. 

 I have seen them put forth large effort to capture 

 our common brook trout, but never with much 

 success. Pish of slower movement are the game 

 he seeks and usually secures. I hear his voice 

 sometimes, but never with anything of a musical 

 nature in the utterance. A hollow tree furnishes 

 them with an excellent nesting place, but when 

 none is convenient they bore a hole deep into the 

 bank, making a very safe retreat for their young. 

 I am told that when they secure a large fish they 

 prepare it for eating by pounding it against the 

 trunk of a tree until it is reduced to pulp. I 

 never see them taking any pastime so conclude 



