The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-05-21

U0u00u SpiNSV0EAuBs euu 0tVeTS Alttto
fakes Of silver leap out Of the water
and skim across its surface for yard
or ~ in NIL directions. Then you may
see a streak Of emerald green flash
forth from the bush and dip into the
canal, bounding up and continuing its
course to right or left This Is nok-
kin-pla, ono Of the numerous kinds Of
king-1shers that abound here. Fully
half the common birds in Siam are call.
ed nok.kin something or other-"nok"
meaning q bird and '.kin" meaning to
eat. "Pla," Of course means fish and
In the Same way scores of birds names
are made up by simply adding to the
same prefix the name Of the food on
which they live or are supposed to live.
Soon you will have better chance Of
observing the art of the nok-kin-pla.
There is one. sitting on Il telegraph
wire. with his long beak pointing
gravcly toward the pa,ldy-field and his
wicked eyes peering into pool below
him. Hero the water is stagnant, and
the mud has sunk to the bottom, lcav-
ing the water semi-transparent. As
you come up probably the minnows are
frightened and make dash. for the
kingiisher above your head. STOPPING
straight down like sparrowhawk. falls
with thud and splash into the pool.
He had missed his mark, though. and,
emerging from the troubled pond. goes
to his stand farther down OH the same
telegraph wire. where the water in
front is clear.
You must push on to the temple,
where there are great trees and perhaps
larger birds. There goes blue-jay,
croaking as he tiops along from one
tree to another. his two shades of blue
reminding you rather Of the ribbons
displayed in London shops ut boat-race
time. On one of the most ancient trees
you will catch that sound of "tap-tap"
which betrays the presence Of wood
pecker; and little patience will ena-
bic you to get look Mt him-a little
hammer-headed, notified bird, with
dusky white and rusty black dotted all
over him in patches. as on an English
cuckoo. Creeping up another branch
is far more brilliant specimen. nearly
equal in size, but with intensely bright
scarlet crown contrasting with strong
black beak. lemon-colorcd chin, saffron
chest, and dark green shoulders. AS
you peer into the tall branches another
streak of emerald comes through them
like an arrow. The thin line of blue
green ends in a point, and the point is
seen to be sleek but slender bird with
very long bcak and cream white breast.
Hardly has he taken up his place before
he begins pluming himsel: and wiping
his bcak OH the rough bark. Evidently
he is highly content with himself and
with the world; and has he not just
pecked up his last unctuous fish and
knocked off work for the day? Pres
emily he feels the need of u "gootl
blow" and off he fits, uttcring his loud,
harsh cry of ''cree-crcc" and taking
perch on tho tip of the tallcst of those
rattail-like ornaments that surmount
the Buddhist temple. He is also u nok-
kin-pla, but much larger-not of the
red-breastcd species already seen.
There are many more of both varieties
still fishing silently round tho edge of
the lake that lies beside the temple.
But now you must hurry homcward.
only stopping to note q big brown owl
or mysterious bat. and debate with your.
self whether those are teal. or willgcon
which sweep by overhead on the way to
the swamp half a mile off.-St. James:
Gazette.