324 ZOOLOGY. 



salt water. All parts of the world, except America, are inhabited by these 

 birds. Australia produces a genus (Dacelo) which contains the largest 

 species of this sub-family. They feed upon small quadrupeds, reptiles, 

 in.sects, and other animals, and are remarkable for a peculiar gurgling 

 laufrh, from which the colonists have named the commonest species " the 

 laughing jackass." 



The genus Halcyon comprises about fifty species, which are mostly 

 found in Africa and India, and the islands of the Indian and Pac-ific oceans. 

 These birds live exclusively in the immediate vicinity of the water, from 

 the animals inhabiting which they derive their subsistence. 



The black-capped kingfisher of India, H. atricapilla {pi. 103, fig. 3), is 

 one of the most common species, though many others are common in 

 collections. The birds of this group are said to nestle in hollow trees. 



Suh-fam. 3. AlcedinincB, or Nan-ow-hilled Kin^ßshers. Bill very 

 straifrht, compressed, and sometimes slender, points of both mandibles 

 acute, commissure straight. Wings and tail short ; tarsi very short, but 

 robust ; toes very unequal, the two anterior of which are united. Size 

 small ; colors of plumage more or less blue and green. 



The birds of this sub-family, though not constituting so many species as 

 are contained in the preceding, are more generally diffused over the entire 

 surface of the temperate and torrid zones. They may be considered as the 

 fresh-water kingfishers in distinction from the Halcyonidce, as they are 

 found only in the vicinity of rivers or small streams, upon the fishes 

 inhabitino- which they live. In the banks of those streams these birds 

 excavate holes, frequently of considerable depth, in which they construct 

 their nests and rear their young. 



The common European kingfisher, Alcido ispida {pi 103, fg. 5), belongs 

 here. It is a very pretty little species, found sparingly throughout the 

 continent, inhabiting the banks of small streams, and usually seen perched 

 upon a small bough overhanging the stream, whence it darts upon such 

 fishes as expose themselves to its keen vision. About twenty other 

 species, more or less related generically to the common European species, 

 are found in Asia and Africa. Some species of the latter country are 

 quite diminutive, being not larger than the North American wren. 



All the American kingfishers belong to the genus Ceryle, which contains, 

 however, species from other parts of the world. There are about ten 

 American species, the only one of which found in the United States is the 

 common belted kingfisher {C alcyon). This bird is distributed throughout 

 the United States, and being the only species of its kind found in the north is 

 universally known. It is constantly to be seen along the courses of brooks 

 or creeks, ready to seize upon the small fishes which are its favorite food. 

 The nest is constructed in a hole in the bank of the stream, and this 

 species is said to breed for several successive years in the same nest. 



Several species have been found as far north as Mexico, though they are 



all common in South America. The C. amazona is one of the most 



common, and has very handsome silky green plumage; others have, 



however, much the same. The giant kingfisher of authors {C. torquata) is 



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