340 



MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS. 



The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida, Linn.) We have never yet 



seen a good figure of this bird, and trust that the engraving we now present 

 — executed by an eminent artist — may be considered a faithful representa- 

 tion. All the other figures we have seen of it err in the too great bulkiness 

 of the bodj' ; for, although a thick bird, it is not so dumpy as ornithological 

 draughtsmen would have us believe. 



A very general opinion prevails as to the scarcity of the Kingfisher in 

 England. This, howevei", is owing to the shy nature of the bird, and to the 

 small attention paid to Natural History by the majority of our countrymen. 

 The assertion of some, that it is extremely common, is, on the other hand, 

 equally erroneous. The fact is, that it is equally', but rather sparingly, dis- 

 tributed throughout the country, that it may, perhaps, not often be noticed, 

 save by the observing ornithologist. That a bird equalling in the splendour 

 of its plumage the brightest ornithological gems of tropical climes should 

 be indigenous in our comparatively northern regions, is certainly not a little 

 remarkable. The majority of British bu'ds, as almost every one knows, are 

 plainly attired ; but the plumage of many of them is, nevertheless, extreme- 

 ly handsome The NaluraUst, vol. ii., p. 386-7. 



Mechanism of the IMotion of Glaciers — Mr. Mallet, at the Bri- 

 tish Association, made it evident that man3^ phenomena of these singular 

 masses had been hitherto overlooked ; and, although described by many emi- 

 nent observers, no solution had been given to the question of their move- 

 ment but that of their weight, which he showed could have only a partial 



