CHAPTER XL 



March 5 March 11. 



THE BELTED KINGFISHER. 



Order Coccyges Suborder Alcyones 



Family Alcedinidae Genus Ceryle 



Sub-genus Streptoceryle Species Ceryle alcyon 



Length 13.50 to 14.50; wing, 9.10 to 9.50; tail, 3.80 to 4.30. 

 Migration North, March ; South, November. 



"O'er the river's brink on a summer's day, 



Where lingering the shadows love to play, 



On an overhanging branch sits he 



And waits and watches patiently, 



Until with his ever restless eye 



He sees a silvery fish swim by. 



Then darting into the river's flow, 



Like an arrow from an archer's bow, 



With a daring dash and splash of spray 



He seizes hold of his finny prey 



And flings a wild laugh to the skies, 



As he mounts above with the shining prize." 



The family Alcedinidae has in it about one hundred and 

 eighty species of kingfishers. A majority of them are found 

 in the Malay Archipelago. Only eight of them are found in 

 America, and only two of these are found in the United States, 

 namely : the Belted Kingfisher and the Texas Kingfisher. This 

 family of birds have a stout long bill, short legs, small feet, 

 three toes in front and one behind, and the third and fourth 



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