THE KINGFISHER. 161 



ORDER PASSERES. 



The Kingfisher. Halcyon. 

 Alcedo Ispida. 



THE ancients had many superstitions connected 

 with these birds ; and to the present day they 

 are held in great veneration in some parts of the 

 world. The Greeks called the common species 

 Alcyon, from Alcyone, the wife of Ceyx. Ceyx 

 being accidentally drowned, Alcyone, as " the 

 fabling poets fein," threw herself into the sea, 

 and they were both transformed into kingfishers. 

 One strange legend universally credited was, 

 that these birds hatched their eggs on the waves ; 

 and that, on certain days in the year, they might 

 be seen floating tranquilly over the waters, thus 

 occupied. During this season, it was believed 

 that the tempests were charmed to rest, and no 

 chilling breeze had permission to ruffle the azure 

 wing of the halcyon, as she glided peacefully 

 along ; until, having hatched her young, she 

 quitted the waters, and left the imprisoned winds 

 at liberty to lift up their stormy voices again, and 



