154 THE BOOK OF BIRDS 



After this pretty gift and acceptance, both flew to the 

 willows, where, let us hope, they shared their breakfast." 



Few of us can think of the Kingfisher as other than a 

 low-flying bird ; yet some present-day naturalists note 

 its power to fly high when it wishes to. It is usually 

 in courting time. Then, says one observer, "they will 

 sometimes rise high in air and top the tallest trees. I 

 have seen one fly over the old thatched rectory at 

 Stafford, making for the nest it had constructed in a deep 

 railway cutting " (an unusual place, as he admits). And 

 Dr. Bowdler Sharpe refers to the fights that ensue between 

 Kingfishers (especially when one has trespassed on the 

 fishing preserves of another) as often being waged high in 

 air, to the accompaniment of shrill and angry screams. 



But soaring is not their characteristic way of flying. 

 A Kingfisher's usual flight is straight as an arrow from 

 a bow, and almost as swift. Many of my readers know 

 that to be true. When out on some river they have been 

 told to notice the passing of one of these birds, and almost 

 before they could turn their heads, a glint of blue far 

 down the stream was all that remained for them to see. 

 The wings though short are very strong, and the long 

 sharp beak held straight out seems to cleave the air as 

 the cutwater of a ship divides the waves. 



This habit of flying straight has often led to the bird 

 being shot even by "sportsmen" of no great precision, 

 in spite of its rapidity. Another fatal habit is that of 

 flying ofl" in one favourite direction, which its enemies 

 soon find out and make a note of 



The Kingfisher is not a sociable bird, as regards others 

 of the clan. He and his mate prefer, like the old 

 frontiersmen, to dwell "away from the crowd," and, as 

 we have already seen, they are quick to resent any 



