166 THE KINGFISHER. 



ranks. Its food is not confined to fish, for it also catches dragon- 

 flies and other water insects ; and whatever prey it catches, it 

 swallows entire, casting up the indigestible parts in pellets, after 

 the manner of the Owls. 



" Its ordinary motion is so rapid, and its colours so bright, that 

 when it passes, it is like a gleam of a broken rainbow, darting 

 along near the surface of the waters. There are few sights in 

 quiet nature more novel and pleasing, or that one wishes more to 

 have repeated, than the first glance one gets of a Kingfisher, dart- 

 ing along some reach of a clear but placid stream, which glides 

 between soft banks, fringed with reeds and bushes. If one is not 

 tolerably well acquainted with it from description, both in its hues 

 and its habits, one is at a loss whether to tnink it a meteor or a 

 bird. It passes so fast, and the rapid motion of the gay wings gives 

 them so much the appearance of vapour, that it is rather a puzzle ; 

 and it is said, and may be true, that its rich hues when it hovers, 

 which it often does after the manner of the Hawks, attracts the 

 small fishes to the surface, in the same manner as the lighted 

 torch, in ' burning the water,' attracts the large ones ; and while 

 they are, as it were, fascinated, it darts down like an arrow, and 

 makes a certain capture, though the colours can be seen from 

 below only when the bird twitches round. When seen as it 

 perches on some slender twig, overhanging the water, it has the 

 appearance of the gay flower of some rare and curious water- 

 plant ; and the bird, as if conscious of the power of instant escape 

 which is in its wings which appears to be felt by most birds so 

 furnished will allow you to approach tolerably near ; and if you 

 are quiet, and do not offer violence or make a noise, (for it is si- 

 lence that the Kingfisher loves more than seclusion), you may 

 see its mode of doing business on the surface of the brook. 



" Its flight is rather low, and straightforward, but its eye must 

 be remarkably keen, because it will, in the most rapid flight, 

 halt, hover for a time, and then dart down, seize a little fish, a 

 leech, or even a worm or slug by the bank, and instantly land 

 with it. As it thus not only fishes wholly by the sight, but from 

 the comparative smallnes of its prey, requires to see very clearly, 

 it is only at particular spots, and in particular states of the wea- 

 ther, that its operations can be successfully carried on. The 

 water must be clear, and the surface smooth ; and that is the 

 reason why it is not found upon turbulent or brawling streams, 

 or when wind curls, rain dimples, or mud darkens the waters. 

 The days when evaporation has ceased, and a storm is impending, 

 are those on which the atmosphere is most transparent, and the 

 surface of the water most glassy. They are, consequently, the 

 days which, above all others, are fitted for the successful opera- 



