WATER FOWL. 483 



deep blue ; the feet are of a reddish-yellow, and 

 the three joints of the outmost toe adhere to the 

 middle toe, while the inner toe adheres only by 

 one. 



From the diminutive size, the slender short 

 legs, and the beautiful colours of this bird, no 

 person would be led to suppose it one of the 

 most rapacious little animals that skims the deep. 

 Yet it is for ever on the wing, and feeds on fish, 

 which it takes in surprising quantities, when we 

 consider its size and figure. It chiefly frequents 

 the banks of rivers, and takes its prey after the 

 manner of the osprey, balancing itself at a cer- 

 tain distance above the water for a considerable 

 space, then darting into the deep, and seizing the 

 fish with inevitable certainty. While it remains 

 suspended in the air, in a bright day, the plumage 

 exhibits a beautiful variety of the most dazzling 

 and brilliant colours. It might have been this 

 extraordinary beauty that has given rise to fable ; 

 for wherever there is any thing uncommon, fancy 

 is always willing to increase the wonder. 



Of this bird it has been said that she built her 

 nest on the water, and thus in a few days hatch- 

 ed and produced her young ; but, not to be in- 

 terrupted in this task, she was said to be possess- 

 ed of a charm to allay the fury of the waves, and 

 during this period the mariner might sail with the 

 greatest security. The ancient poets are full of 

 these fables ; their historians are not exempt 

 from them. Cicero has written a long poem in 

 praise of the halcyon, of which there remains but 

 two lines. Even the emperor Gordian has written 



VOL. IV. E 



