EXOTIC BIRDS FOR BRITAIN 147 



ing, are fitted from their peculiar structure and 

 life habits to occupy places in nature which no 

 other kinds, however plastic they may be, can even 

 partially fill. The wryneck and the woodpecker 

 may be mentioned ; and a still better instance is 

 afforded by the small, gem-like kingfisher — ^the 

 only British bird which can properly be described 

 as gem-like. When the goldfinch goes — and we 

 know that he is going rapidly — other coarser frin- 

 gilline birds, without the melody, brightness, and 

 charm of the goldfinch — sparrow, and bunting — 

 come in, and in some rough fashion supply its 

 place ; but when the kingfisher disappears an 

 important place is left absolutely vacant, for in this 

 case there is no coarser bird of homely plumage with 

 the fishing instinct to seize upon it. Here, then, is 

 an excellent opportunity for an experiment. In the 

 temperate regions of the earth there are many fine 

 kingfishers to select from ; some are resident in 

 countries colder than England, and are conse- 

 quently very hardy; and in some cases the rivers 

 and streams they frequent are exceedingly poor in 

 fish. Some of them are very beautiful, and they 

 vary in size from birds no larger than a sparrow to 

 others as large as a pigeon. 



Anglers might raise the cry that they require 

 all the finny inhabitants of our waters for their 

 own sport. It is scarcely necessary to go as deeply 



