THE AFRICAN BROWN-BELLIED KINGFISHER 97 
driving a stout peg into the bank some five feet off the nest I 
was able to get the camera into position by attaching it to the 
peg with a handy device called a unipod ; this little attach- 
ment has proved of great value in places where a tripod could 
not be used. 
In a position such as this one has to dispense with the 
pleasure of working alongside the camera and it is necessary 
to have the hiding tent at a distance and to work the shutter 
with a long release. 
I found these kingfishers to be extremely timid, and I 
had to go very gently with them ; thus, instead of attempting 
to take photographs right away, I left the camera in position 
for a day or two before starting operations. 
At the end of this time the birds had become used to the 
camera, and the plates which illustrate these notes were 
taken. 
Of the two birds, the male appeared to be the more anxious 
but was certainly not the bolder, for he only faced the camera 
on two occasions. 
During the period I kept these birds under observation, 
I noticed that they fed the young most frequently between 
7 and 10 a.m. and 4 and 6 p.m. 
The food consisted chiefly of grasshoppers. The method 
of capturing these was most interesting to watch ; the birds 
would perch on the telegraph wire or railway signal and would 
keep a sharp lookout over a small area of ground. They did 
not sit motionless but continually raised and depressed their 
heads, at the same time making a side movement. They 
did not make any sound except when, having sighted their 
prey, they would utter a shrill whistle and dive straight down, 
capturing the insect in the beak. 
They descend with remarkable force and rapidity, but do 
not seem to injure themselves with the impact. They utter 
the same call when they return to their lookout post as when 
they leave it. 
The insects are always killed before being given to the 
young ; this is done by repeatedly beating the head against 
the perch with sharp lateral movements. 
Although the lake was within a short distance of the nest, 
