THE KINTG FISHER THE CUCKOO. 



-pccies of animal life,- proclaim the plastic hand of 

 Nature's God. 



THE KING FfSHEU, OR HALCYON, 



Is well known in this country, and is one of the most 

 beautiful birds of these northern climates. It is not 

 much larger than a swallow: its legs are, according 

 to our superficial notions of elegance, too small, and 

 MS beak too long in proportion to its body; but both 

 ti*e perfectly adapted to its mode of living and pro- 

 curing its food. The brilliant colours of its plumage, 

 iiowever, are sufficient, even in our partial estimation, 

 >o atone for whatever caprice may deem inelegant jn 

 its form. The. crown of the head and the outside ol 

 the wings are of a deep blackish green, with bright 

 azure spots; the back and the tail are of the most re- 

 .plenclnt azure :' tlie under part of the body is 

 orang'j-coloured : and a broad mark of the 'same puss*- 

 ing from the bill reaches 'beyond the eyes. In view- 

 ing the beautiful plumage, the slender legs, and dimi- 

 nutive size of this bird, you would scarcely, my dear 

 Sir, suppose it to be one of the most rapacious little 

 creatur.es that nature produces. This, however, is 

 in reality, the case. It is almost continually on th$ 

 wing, hovering over the rivers and lakes, where it 

 catches small tishes in surprising quantities, by darV- 

 ing down upon them with inevitable certainty. 

 While it remains suspended in the air in a sun-shiny 

 day, its plumage exhibits a beautiful variety of the 

 most dazzling colours. 



Of this bird, our own and foreign countries exhibit 

 not less than thirty-six varieties. 

 THE CUCKOO 



is one of the most noted of the feathered race; and* 

 although it cannot boast any great variety or beauty 

 of plumage, is remarkable for the elegance of its 

 form and the peculiarity of its habits. It is somewhat 

 less than a pigeon, but in its form resembles a hawk, 

 and its colour is a greyish blue. Its note is univer- 

 sally known; and as it announces the approach of 

 summer, is always listened to with pleasure : but the 

 particulars of its history are involved in obscurity, 

 a 3 



