666 JACULATORES. DARTERS. 



bill is very similar, although somewhat arched ; and their 

 wings differ only in having the primaries more elongated. 

 Nearly allied to these are the Jacamars and others, which have 

 the feet zygodactyle ; and to the same group may be referred a 

 number of genera, chiefly tropical, which connect the Alce- 

 dinse with the Excursores, and especially with the Psarinae 

 and Laniinse. But of these there is hardly occasion to speak, 

 as in Britain there are only two representatives of the single 

 family of Alcedinae. 



All the species of the genus Alcedo are believed to feed 

 chiefly on small fishes, which they seize by plunging into the 

 water ; and for this reason I at first proposed giving the name 

 of Immersores to the group. But the thick-billed Kingfishers 

 of the genus Halcyon, are supposed to live on insects ; and the 

 Bee-eaters are not known to capture fishes. Their peculiar 

 mode of flying has suggested to me the idea of naming them 

 Darters, a term not more fanciful as applied to them than to 

 the genus Plotus. If Jaculator signifies, not one who darts, 

 or moves with the rapidity of a dart, but who casts darts from 

 him, yet a Kingfisher, not having the power of casting his, 

 unless by propelling it by following, is not the less a Darter. 



