1NSESSORES.
FISSIROSTBES
HALCYONIDÆ.
T H E K IN G F ISH E R .
Aleedo ispida, Common Kingfisher, P enn. Brit, Zpbl'. vol« i. p .3 2 6 .
Mont. Ômith. Diet. -
The
Common
The
HBéwick, Brit. Birds,- volîffîî p. 129;-
F lem. Brit. An. p. 89»
Selby, Brit;'Ornith. vol. i. p. 136.
J enyns, Brit. VertI p. 157.’
Ctôuld, Ilirds-of F»urope,.pt. i.
Martin Pecheur Alcyon, T emm. Man. d’Ornith^ voL i. p. 423.
Alcedo. Generic Characters.—Beak long, straight, quadrangular, and acute.
Nostrils placed at the base 'of the beak, oblique, and nearly closed by a naked
membrane. Feet small, tarsi shorty -naked ; toes three in' front; the_external
toe united to the middle toe as far as the second articulation, and. the middle
toe united to the inner one as far as-the first; hind toe strong, fur short.
Wings short; the second or third quill-feather thefongest. ;
T he well-known Kingfisher is’ one of the most beautiful of
our British' birds,' and' will bear a comparison with many of
those which are brought from climates considered more favourable
tó the. production of brilliant colojirs. I t is also
generally distributedyuthougb- it can scarcely be said to be
very numerous aiiywhere. It frequents the banks of streams
oivvarious sizesj whether rivers-.or broqks, sornetimesinhabtlfe1
ing thek;\dcinity, of fish-ponds;- and* thevbird is mest frequently
seen when flying rapidly alohgynear the surface of:the water.;
Its fcfediieoiisïsts" o f . watér-beetfesV^leeches, minnows? stickle-
backs^'and • probably, any. other, species,?of small- fish which it
carilseizetiupoh by surprise': For this,.purpose*- thé - Kingfisher!
takes a station nearthe; water? jsittihg'on the branch of
a bush or-tree; o,yerhUnging thëo&trli.m', or on a rail by .the->
waterl'silsë,' from'whênce ;tfti darts» instantaneously ’.upon any
passing.Jutl and-will obcasionally suspend itself on; tbe:wing$j
fiovering and<%atcftihg; for a?; favourable opportunity to make
Me plun|jê which is^to’secure its victim.!. T&'preiyis always?
takeif^Ith ther»b}êük?^ a n d ® unerring is1 the,*aim, that!the
bird &ëldom failsldoógain tilè fish i t strikes at.,, which when
thus captured"' is broughtHro the .-.usual waitingiplace5 and after;
somëtmutalation to produce dfelth, is invariably swallowed'
head foremost.
1 Thé Kingfisher, is solitary! in its habits, and pugnacious in
disposition, -seldom, to be seen with ahy,associate except its.
mate during'thg breeding-season.* jAfo-fps.' period a pair;tafei
possession of a hole .already formed by some burrowing animal,
in.’fbfe Bank by;tbe>'water side, and often but littletefe-
vated above thé surface of the stream ; sometimes’ the Kingfisher
will take to: a cavity among .the exposed roots Of an
agecLiree on the rlveV .„bank they hkvè .been "known to take
possession of a hold,)£h a' bank frequented by Sand Martins^at
a distance from water ; and Mr. TeSse relatesdh his Gleanings
that in the summer of 188*4? one of the workmen employed