TROGONID.E. ALCEDINID^E, OR KINGFISHERS. 457 



or jagged. They are covered with very fine soft feathers ; and 

 many of them are beautifully coloured. Their habitation is 

 chiefly in low damp woods, in the tropical portions of America 

 and Asia ; they fly early in the morning, and in the evening ; 

 and they build in holes in trees. Their food consists partly of 

 insects, and partly of berries ; and whilst watching for the 

 former, they will often sit for hours at a time, perched solitarily 

 on the low branches of trees, in the most secluded portions of 

 dense forests. They seem to be stupified by the glare of the 

 sun ; and during the day they take so little notice of the pre- 

 sence of intruders, that they may be approached near enough to 

 be knocked down with a stick. Their flight is rapid whilst it 

 lasts, but cannot be long sustained. The Trogon resplendem of 

 Mexico is a most splendid Bird ; its whole upper surface being 

 of the richest metallic golden green ; and the tail being covered 

 by long soft plumes of the same hue. These plumes were made use 

 of by the ancient Mexicans as ornaments for their head-dresses. 



412. The Birds of the family ALCEDINID.E, or Kingfishers, 

 have a long quadrangular* bill ; which, but for its wide gape, 

 might be thought to belong to the Conirostral series. The wings 

 are short ; and the feet very small ; the front toes are united at 

 their base, whence this group has been separated from the other 

 Fissirostres, by the title of Syndactyli, which indicates the 

 adhesion of the fingers. The tail is short ; and the course in 

 flight seems rather to be regulated by the long bill. These Birds 



for the most part live on fish, which 

 they transfix with the bill, making 

 use of it as a fishing-spear. The 

 plumage is generally of a brilliant 

 blue or green colour ; and very 

 smooth and glossy, so as not to be 

 easily wetted by water. Their nests 

 are situated in holes, in the banks of 

 the streams, from which the birds 



Fio. 257. KINGFISHER. , , . jt . , m , ,. 



obtain their food. They are soli- 

 tary Birds in their habits ; not even the male and female of the 



* Having four sides and angles. 



