CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 95 



CASE R 



THE KINGFISHER. 

 Order, Picarice. Family, Alcedimdtz. 



This beautiful species is, without exception, the 

 handsomest of all our British Birds ; indeed, in its 

 plumage it may be said to resemble a bird of 

 tropical countries, and when seen flying away with 

 strong sunlight on its back, lighting up all its 

 colours to their fullest extent, it undoubtedly can 

 hold its own with some of the very best of them. 



It is, according to Howard Saunders, very 

 generally distributed, being found in England, 

 Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, where localites are 

 suitable. It cannot, I think, be looked upon as a 

 plentiful species ; although I do not agree with some 

 pessimists who talk as if the bird was almost extinct. 

 No doubt it suffers some persecution, chiefly from 

 the use of its feathers for making artificial flies. 



Mr. W. H. Hudson says : " It is found in suitable 

 localities throughout Great Britian, where it has not 

 been exterminated to gratify the vile taste that 

 prefers a mummy to a living creature." In reply to 

 this, I say that few people who have to earn their 

 own living have leisure and opportunity to study 

 bird life in the field. To do that would necessitate 

 their exploring every part of the British Islands, from 

 the fact that only certain birds are found in certain 

 localities. Under ordinary circumstances, were there 

 no Museums for instruction, their knowledge would 



