STERNUM OF THE KINGFISHER. 339 



enlarged at the heads of the branches, which are 

 divided into two processes, one in contact with the 

 coracoid and the blade-bone ; and the other, which 

 is much larger, passing under and bearing up the head 

 of the coracoid. The blade-bones are also large, 

 flattened, sithe-shaped, and pointed at their ter- 

 minations. 



Thus the greatest strength of this sternum is con- 

 centrated upon the coracoids, the furcal, and the blade 

 bones ; but when we come to examine the posterior 

 part of it we find it proportionally weaker, so that 

 the keel or origin of the muscles of flight is not so 

 well supported as the shoulder-joint ; and that there- 

 fore there is, in the sternum of this bird, an indication 

 of some other action of the fore-part of the body 

 besides that of simple flight. 



This agrees well with the habit of the bird, great 

 part of whose food consists of small fishes captured 

 when on the wing ; and thus the bird has not only to 

 resist the contact of the water with the fore-part of 

 its body, but also to regain the sky with little or no 

 assistance from the feet, while the line of the wings is 

 nearly touching the surface. This is a position from 

 which hardly any bird besides the kingfisher has to 

 recover its flight ; for other fishing birds, if we except 

 the eagles and hawks which have that habit, derive 

 assistance either from the bottom, as in the case of 

 the wading birds ; or from the water, as in the case 

 of the gannets, darters, and other birds of that tribe. 

 Even the fishing eagles derive advantage from the 

 water in regaining the sky after their stoop. The 

 points of their wings, and especially their broad and 

 firm tail feathers, assist them in working themselves so 

 far out of the water as that they have it under their 

 wings, and thus are able to use these for flight. The 

 z2 



