THE KINGFISHER. 249 



blue, and in others dirty white; the spots are usually of a rust-colour, 

 either collected in a zone around the larger end, or dispersed over the 

 surface. Both parents sit on the nest by turns, and the young are 

 hatched in about a fortnight. 



THE KINGFISHER, 



(Alcedo ispida.) 



PLATE XVF. FIGURE VII. 



FEW of our British birds will bear comparison with the Kingfisher 

 for brilliancy of colouring, although many are far more elegant in 

 shape. Indeed his thick body, large head, immense bill, diminutive 

 feet, and short stumpy tail would render him altogether a most unat- 

 tractive object were it not for the splendid tints of blue, and green, 

 and gold, that gleam and flash from his plumage. These so delight 

 the eye of the observer with their beauty and richness as to cause 

 him to scarcely notice the form and proportions of the body they 

 cover. 



The Kingfisher is common in suitable localities in nearly all parts 

 of Great Britain, and is generally distributed over the European con- 

 tinent. It is also found in Asia and Africa. The banks of still rivers, 

 brooks, and ponds a.re its favourite resorts. Here it preys on the small 

 fish that sport in the clear water, and the numerous insects that dart 

 over its surface. Macgillivray most graphically describes the manner 

 in which it procures its food. Bidding his readers follow him in fancy 

 to the banks of a woodland stream, he says, "See, perched on the 

 stump of a decayed willow jutting out from the bank, stands a King- 

 fisher, still and silent, and ever watchful. Let us creep a little nearer, 

 that we may observe him to more advantage. There he is, grasping 

 the splint with his tiny red feet, his bright blue back glistening in 

 the sunshine, his ruddy breast reflected from the pool beneath, his long 

 dagger-like bill pointed downwards, and his eye intent on the minnows 

 that swarm among the roots of the old tree that project into the water 

 trom the crumbling bank. He stoops, opens his wings a little, shoots 

 downwards, plunges headlong into the water, re-appears in a moment, 

 flutters, sweeps off in a curved line, wheels round, and returns to his 

 post. The minnow in his bill he beats against the decayed stump 



2 K 



