XIII 



KINGFISHERS 



" And scarce it pushes 

 Its gentle way through strangling rushes 

 Where the glossy kingfisher 

 Flutters when noon-heats are near." 



Paracelsus. 



11 The pied fish-tiger hung above the pool." 



The Light of Asia. 



KINGFISHERS are nowadays so sadly rare within the 

 British islands that it comes as a surprise to any new 

 arriver in a tropical country to find how common 

 they can be the^re. Common they certainly are, but 

 at the same time they can never cease to be objects 

 of admiration from the quaintness of their habits 

 and the wonderful splendour of the plumage in most 

 species ! Two species, Alcedo ispida and Halcyon 

 smyrnensis, are constant residents in the suburban 

 gardens of Calcutta, and frequent visitors of the 

 numerous ponds that lie scattered here and there 

 even in the most densely populated parts of the town. 

 So long as it abounds in fish and Crustacea, they do 

 not seem to be at all fastidious in regard to the 

 quality of the water that they frequent ; and may 



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