KINGFISHER. 5 r

wings and forked tail. purplish, below white. It ' comes in May, dashing, like an emerald meteor, through the early garden walks, and staying while the late September blossoms distil nectar along the faded borders. The tiny nest, with two diminutive white eggs, is placed on the upper side of a naked limb, and formed of the snowy down of the prairie willow, but stuccoed outside with the lichens peculiar to the limb on which it is built, so as to completely conceal it from observation. This jewelled mite, so nervous and delicate that if merely taken in the hand it may die of fear, defends its nest with the utmost bravery, dashing, like a mad hornet, at the head of the intruder, and screeching with its sharp squeaky voice as it rushes to the assault.

W'- fiingfizher. ( Ceryle ale/071)

Who does not know that bold fisherman bird, the Belted Kingfisher, with his great quadrangular bill, his loud chattering laugh, his arrowy flight and his deep-dug hole in the river bank? His