THE KINGFISHER. 



265 



means wild, for we have seen it on the ground, and on the 

 trees in a public walk at Seville, hut is most abundant in 

 Egypt and Arabia, where they are called the children of 

 Solomon, from a tradition that they formed part of the cargo 

 of the " navy of Tarshish," bringing to him, from Ophir, 

 " gold and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks." (1 Kings 

 x. 22.) It is currently believed by the people of the 

 country, that its crest was then a crown of gold ; but that 

 the avidity of mankind for this precious metal occasioning 

 the birds to be often killed for their crowns, they assembled 

 together, and represented their Case to Solomon himself. 

 This monarch, in his great wisdom, understood the languages 

 of all animals, as well as of all people on the face of the 

 earth ; and hearing and pitying their case, he prayed to their 

 Creator to ameliorate their destiny, when the crown of gold 

 was instantly changed to a crest of feathers, of equal, if not 

 still greater beauty. 

 - The Kingfisher, rivalling, if not exceeding the Bee-Eater, 



