232 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



who believed that it had marvellous influence in 

 quelling the storm, and subduing the tempest's 

 rage. 



" May halcyons smooth the waves, and calm the seas." 



The kingfisher nestles in some hole in the bank, 

 where, having seized the favourable occasion to 

 obtain an abundant supply of food, and gorged 

 himself to the very throat, he retreats, and dozes 

 and digests. To this place he continues perman- 

 ently attached, and is not to be driven away from 

 it, even by the plundering of his nest. The young 

 birds are very clamorous for food, and consume a 

 large quantity. They have been taken from the 

 nest, and brought up, being supplied with small 

 fish ; and their powers and modes of proceeding 

 have never failed to interest the observer. The 

 stronger will kill the weaker, even to the last bird, 

 unless care be taken to separate them. 



The PARROTS are an extensive family of true 

 climbers, divided into numerous sections ; but as 

 none of them inhabit our country they do not 

 come within our limits, and they are merely 

 mentioned for the purpose of saying that in 

 " The Zoologist, for 1855," there is an' interesting 

 account headed, "Parrots at large in Norfolk;" 

 stating that in a wood in the neighbourhood of 

 Cromer, there are living thirteen American par- 



