Class II. KINGFISHER. 247 



fame pafTes from the bill beyond the eyesj beyond 

 that is a large white fpot: the tail isfhort, andcon- 

 filb of twelve feathers of a rich deep blue: the feet 

 are of a reddifh yellow : the three lower joints of 

 the outmofl: toe adhere to the middle toe : the in- 

 ner toe adheres to ic by one joint. 



The kingfillier frequents the banks of rivers, and 

 feeds on lifh. To compare fmall things to great, 

 it takes its prey after the m.anner of the ofprey^ ba- 

 lancing itfelf at a certain diftance over the water 

 for a confiderable fpace, then darting below the 

 furface, brings the prey up in its ^ttt. While it 

 remains fufpended in the air, in a bright day, the 

 plumage exhibits a mod beautiful variety of the 

 mod dazzling and brilliant colors. This ftriking 

 attitude did not efcape the notice of the antients, 

 for Ibycus^ as quoted hy Athenaus^ ftyles thefe 

 birds «?^yov£^ tawainii^oi *, the halcyons with expanded 

 wings. It makes its nefl: in holes in the fides of the 

 cliffs, which it fcoops to the depth of three feet ; 

 and lays from five to nine eggs f , of a mod beau- 

 tiful femi-tranfparent white. The ned is very- 

 fetid, by reafon of the remains of the fifh brought 

 to feed the young. 



This fpecies is the a.-h)iumct<pm^^ or mute halcyon 

 of ArifiotkX^ which he defcribes with more preci- 



* P. 388. 

 f Gefner fays he found nine young in one nell. 

 X Hiji. an, 892, 1050. 



fion 



