"O great father Aeolus," she prayed, "give me wings so large and strong that they will carry me to the spot where the king now lies. "Hear me, Aeolus! Hear Halcyone, thy child!" And as she prayed, lo, she rose slowly into the air. The folds of her blue robe enwrapped her. Halcyone floated out across the sea. Again and again her breast touched the white crest of the waves and left its foam on her throat and on the bosom of her dress. On and on she sped across the billowy waters. Her wings were firm, strong, untiring. At last, floating upon the water she spied the form of the king. With a hoarse rattling in her throat she called to him. With her strong wings outspread, Halcyone hung motionless above the king. Those broken cries came again and again from her throat. And Juno, looking down from her cloudland home, saw Halcyone kneeling on the waves beside the dead king. She leaned down from her place in the heavens and touched the king's forehead. Lo! there rose from the water two strong-winged birds in dresses of blue and white. "Ah," sighed Aeolus, "let us call them the halcyon birds, for the lovely Halcyone, whose love did not fail her. "Let these birds live ever beside the waters and rear their young in peace and quiet. "Behold, when Halcyone broods over her little ones I will hold my winds in check. The waters shall be quiet and the sun shall shine merrily. "And these days of peace and quiet and happiness shall be called 'halcyon days,' for ever." ALL ABOUT THE KINGFISHER SUGGESTIONS FOR FIELD LESSONS Comes north in early March--remains until December, often throughout the year. Song--harsh, discordant, laughing chuckle or rattle--never musical. Upper parts blue--wings and tail with white markings--lower parts white with two blue bands across breast--bluish tinge on sides--a white spot in front of each eye.--Head large and crested--bill longer than head--feet small. Food--principally fish which it obtains by diving and kills by striking against a tree if large, or swallows alive if small.--This food supplemented by larger insects, shrimps, etc. Nest--tunnelled out of bank--six to eight feet deep--at the extreme end of tunnel is the nest made of fish-bones and scales. Eggs--pure white--four to six in one brood. THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER [Illustration: Woodpecker] IN CAP OF RED Phyllis sat in her own room, rocking her doll to sleep. The window was open and the curtain flapped idly in the breeze. Presently into the room darted a bird. He was beautifully dressed. His soft gray uniform was spotted and barred with white. He did not seem in the least alarmed when he found himself in the room with Phyllis. He perched on the window-ledge and did not even glance at the little girl. In a moment he flew to the ledge above her door. With his strong little bill he began to rap, rap, rap at the wood. "You act like a woodpecker, but you do not look like one," said Phyllis.