46 PASSERES. ALCEDINID.E. 



parts rich scarlet; a white crescent crosses the 

 chest ; the outer tail-feathers are white, minutely 

 barred with black ; the secondaries and all the 

 coverts of the wings are grey, delicately pencilled 

 with black; the forehead and throat are black, 

 and the beak light yellow. This beautiful bird is 

 a native of Mexico. 



FAMILY V. ALCEDINID^:. 



(Kingfishers.) 



While in the brilliant little Kingfisher of our 

 own streams we trace a very manifest resem- 

 blance to the Todies, we find in the construction 

 of its beak, and especially in its increased power, 

 an indication of very different habits. The King- 

 fishers are the most predatory of the Fissirostral 

 tribe ; our native species is a voracious devourer of 

 fishes, and while most of the Family have similar 

 instincts and appetites, there are not wanting spe- 

 cies in which the beak is greatly enlarged, whose 

 rapacity is formidable, even to reptiles, birds, and 

 small quadrupeds. 



The Family before us is characterized by a 

 long, stout, pointed beak, with angular sides ; 

 small and feeble feet, the outmost and middle 

 toes united to the last joint ; wings rounded and 

 hollow, incapable of protracted flight ; a robust 

 form, with a large head, and usually a short tail. 

 Their plumage is dense and close, and commonly 

 of blue or green hues. They are scattered over 

 the world, but Australia with the adjacent isles, 

 and South America, contain the greatest number 

 of species. 



