196 



of the preyer to the prey, which brings them to inhabit the same places, and to be 

 abroad at the same times. Now fresh-water fishes, especially those that frequent 

 the smaller streams, which are liable to be acted on by the weather to their whole 

 depth, are known to be so exceedingly sensitive that the presence or absence of 

 the sun, or the shifting of the wind from one point to another, will send them all 

 quiescent to the bottom of the stream or bring them in activity near to the sur- 

 face, according as the change is the one way or the other. 



Now, in order to adapt them for the capture of prey so sensitive, it is neces- 

 sary that the birds themselves should be acutely sensitive to the same changes ; 

 and thus they who have had the best opportunities for observing state, that, when 

 the weather renders the fishes quiescent, the Kingfisher takes its station upon a 

 stump or a stone, where it " bides its time" in the patient manner that has been 

 described. But, on the other hand, when the state of the weather puts the fishes 

 on the alert, and makes the smaller ones sport near the surface of the water, the 

 Kingfishers betake themselves to the air, and dart abroad over the surface with 

 extraordinary rapidity, considering the shortness of their wings. 



At those times, however, they are solitary in their feeding, and so many 

 as two are never seen in close company or very near to each other. Even the 

 males and females have no sort of intercourse or recognition of each other, except 

 in the pairing season, and then they are cryptogamous as well as monogamous, 

 and do not appear at the same time. Their feeding grounds are also often at a 

 considerable distance from their nesting places ; and they are generally in more 

 retired situations, because when they meet, the nuptial cave affords concealment. 

 There is no formal building in the nest, but it often contains a considerable quan- 

 tity of fish bones, which, in all probability, the birds discharge in castings. At 

 this time both birds repose in the nest-hole during the night, but as they arrive 

 and depart with great celerity, they are seldom seen, and the nest is not often 

 found. The rearing of the brood is long and laborious, as the young do not quit 

 the nest until they are so far fledged as to be able to make their way, and find their 

 own food, over the waters. When they arrive at this state the whole family sepa- 

 rate, never, in all probability, to meet again. In fact, notwithstanding the exquisite 

 colours and brilliant gloss of their plumage, Kingfishers are solitary, and, in a sen- 

 timental point of view, dismal birds ; their cry is harsh and unmusical, and their 

 nesting places are offensively filthy. Brilliant plumage does not appear, indeed, to be 

 an indication of any quality of birds which renders them valuable or even interest- 

 ing to man, but it is probable that it, in some way, renders them more susceptible 

 to atmospheric and solar action. We may have another opportunity of adverting 

 to this curious point. 



