THE BELTED KINGFISHER. 



HIS beautiful bird is called the 

 king of the fishers. It is resi- 

 dent in all California. It may 

 be seen around inland streams, 

 especially mill-races, and along 

 the sea-coast. Its head seems to be 

 much too large for its body. But 

 the kingfisher has use for its head, 

 as the woodpecker has good use for his. The 

 woodpecker's head is his hammer for driving his 

 beak into the trees. The head of the kingfisher 

 drives its beak into the water for the fish upon 

 which it lives. The bill of the kingfisher is its 

 pike, with which it captures its food. It is the 

 bird's spear, and it goes straight to the unlucky 

 fish sporting in the water. And the kingfisher's 



eye is as sharp and strong 

 as its beak, for it is able 

 to see its food through 

 dark and muddy water, 

 as well as in the clearest 



REFERENCE TOPICS. 



disgorge- 



Reason for 



ment. 



Habits of fishes. 

 Cruelty of stringing flsh 



alive. 



streams. 



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