1834 



THE PICARIAN BIRDS 



which is inclosed in a sheath, thus giving the nestling a peculiar bristly appear- 

 ance. This sheath incloses the feather till it is almost fully grown, and then falls 

 off rapidly, leaving the feathers exposed; although in all kingfishers and their 

 allies the plumage is never very dense. Indeed, in birds which have to plunge into 

 the water a fluffy plumage would be greatly in the way, and hence we have in the 

 kingfishers a closely-fitting body plumage, which does not get draggled or wet 

 through by the immersion which it has to undergo. 



THE KINGFISHER. 

 (Two -thirds natural size.) 



In 1871 the writer divided the kingfishers into two subfamilies, namely, the 

 fish-eating Alcedinince, and the insect or reptile-eating Dacelonince; and even now 

 the kingfishers seem still to afford an illustration of the utility of considering the 

 habits of the birds as of primary importance. In this instance characteristics may 

 be found which can be correlated with the difference in the mode of life. Thus the 

 fish-eating kingfishers are equipped for their manner of living by the development 

 of a long and narrow bill, and a tail just long enough to act as a rudder, but not of 

 sufficient length to be in the way. On the other hand, the bush kingfishers, which 

 feed less on fish and more on insects and reptiles, have the bill not so narrow or 



