148 



THE FEATHERED TRIBES. 



The common kingrtslior, which is found in Europe or Asia, is six or seven inches long. 

 This species has no crest on the head. The bill is black, but the inside of tlio mouth is 

 yellow. The tongue and taU are very short. 



The flio'ht of tliis bird is extremely rapid, a fact so much the more remarkable an the 

 wings are very small in proportion to the body, and must, therefore, be furnished with 

 very powerful nniscles. Destined to live by the destruction of other beings, its leading 

 habits are patient and persevering ferocity. Perched on a slight branch overhanging a 

 stream, the kingfisher will remain a great length of time waiting the micertaiu passage 

 of its prey beneath ; or moving rapidly along the bank from one little elevation to another, 

 it is more actively, but more abstractedly, occupied in the same precarious avocation. 

 The eagerness and impetuosity with which it darts imder the water in pursuit of its finny 

 prey are excessive ; and it is remarked, that in order to give a greater impetus to its 

 descent, the kingfisher fi.r'st mounts a few feet immediately over the spot where it is about 



I'ACELO ATKKAriLI.A. 



to dive; and that this preliminary ascent is always propor1i(»ucd in the size of the fish 

 about to be attacked. At another time this bird will skim rapidly along tlie surface of 

 the water, uttering a sharp cry, and seizing such small fish as may thus come within its 

 power. Tlie kingfisher, unlike some other fish-eating birds, does not swallow the fisli 

 whole, but carrying it on land, breaks and tears it with its strong bill. Severe winters 

 are frequently very destructive to these birds, when the frozen surface of the waters sIuiIb 

 up the finny tiibcs from thoir attacks. 



The kingfisher may often be found near llic haunts of man, but it prefers lonely and 

 secluded places. Its only companion is its mate, and both labour assiduously in supporting 

 their young. The ])lace chosen for incubation is a steep, precipitous, or overlianging bank, 

 in which, at some distance above the water, they cither I'oim or seize on a l)urrow 

 extending about three feet deep, at the extremity of whicli, wilhoul niaking any nest, 

 the female lays her egg.s, about five in number, of a licauliful pinky-white. After tlie 

 young are liafcliod it is not long bcfon^ they are surrounded by a circular mound of 

 disgorged fish-bones. It has been su])poscd that of these the nest is constructed, but 

 sucli is not the case. The yoinig, almost as soon as fledged, ac(|uiic the plumage of tlicir 

 parents, burnislied, as it is, with a metallic s\ii'fac(! and rcsjilcndcnl witli the most brilliant 

 liues. 



The Si/iiifi Toraloro lives on tlie sca-shoic in New fi'uinea, where it feeds on small lisli. 

 Its beak is yellow, its head red, and its back blue. Tlie ]wm\v{ Bticcfo A/ri((/j)i//(i is black. 



