117 
IX. 
MAY 10th. 
Belted Kingfisher. — Gold-winged Woodpecker. — Pileated Woodpecker. 
— Red- winged Starling. — Bald Eagle. — Meadow Lark. — Ferruginous 
Thrush.— Maryland Marmot. — Birch Stump. — Insects. — Grey-veined 
White Butterfly. — Spring Azure B. — Dog's-tooth Violet. — Tamarack. 
-^Elm Blossoms. — Ova of Frogs. — Leather Plant. — Raspberry. — Black 
Cherry. — Red Cherry. — Bat. — Short- tailed Field Mouse. — Instance of 
maternal Care. 
Charles. — I have been taking a walk this afternoon by 
myself; my course has been down to Smith's mills, crossing 
the bridge, and following the river a little way ; occasionally 
straying into the woods, as I took my gun with me. 
Father. — I perceive you have had some success in pro- 
curing birds. 
C. — What is this bird ? its head is too large to allow 
the form to be graceful ; but its colours, blue and white, are 
chaste, and even elegant. 
F. — It is the Belted Kingfisher (Alcedo Alcyon) : its 
habits are much like those of its more showy congener, the 
English kingfisher. 
C. — I shot it near the mill ; it was perched on the 
branch of a cedar which overhangs the water just below the 
falls, where the cliff is high and precipitous ; I had some 
difficulty in securing it after I had killed it, for it fell in the 
water. It was probably watching for fish among the pools 
and eddies caused by the rocks. 
F. — It generally frequents such situations : it no doubt 
