204 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



INSESSOEES. HALCYONID^E. 



FISSIROSTRES. 



THE KINGFISHER 



ALCEDO ISP1DA. 



THE beauty of the plumage of this well-known bird has made it a 

 marked object, and almost every one accustomed to use a gun 

 shoots it when it comes in his way. Hence, in the winter months, 

 when the banks of rivers are naked, and the leafless willows spread 

 their slender wands against the grey sky, the stealthy ornithologist 

 finds but little difficulty in stalking the wished-for prize. Nor 

 can it be said to be much safer, or less easily observed, during the 

 spring and summer months, especially when incubating, as it then 

 plunges more frequently for prey to supply its nestlings. The 

 following description of its habits at this season, taken from an 

 account by the Rev. E. S. Dixon of Norwich, is both pleasing and 

 accurate: 



" The holiday stroller from the confinement of a large town, as 

 he tracks the retired footpath that skirts the margin of some small 

 brook overhung with alders and willows, is startled by a shrill, 

 sharp cry, and sees glancing past him one or two winged emeralds: 

 in a moment they are gone, and he walks on thinking of the 

 brilliant creatures that have just vanished from his gaze. Soon 

 he advances to a spot where the streamlet spreads into an open 

 pool: he sits down to rest, wondering at the beauty of the dragon 

 flies, longing to reach the floating water-lilies, and enjoying the 

 perfume of the mint he has trodden under foot. He hears a short 

 splash; he turns, and sees the spreading circles on the water; he 

 looks up, and behold, on an outstretching branch, a bird whose 

 ruddy bosom alone meets his view. He remains motionless, 

 watching his newly discovered neighbour. Soon the bird dashes 

 into the water, and returns immediately to its seat on the branch: in 

 flight it seems all blue; in repose, all ruddy brown ! It is the same 

 bird which he saw before, but has two completely different aspects 

 like those double masquerade costumes, wherein the front 

 assumes one character, and the back another. Again a plunge is 

 made into the stream, and the bird uprises, bearing a little fish in 

 his beak; this time he returns, not to his branch, but departs 

 straight away like a levelled rocket: perhaps the nest is near at 

 hand." 



