CONTENTS. XI 



CHAPTER III. 



THE CRESTED TURKEY. 



PAGE 



Imaginary and doubtful animals. Crested Turkeys formerly in 

 Holland. None now produced in English poultry-yards. Still 

 extant in Central America. Of two kinds. Not a freak of na- 

 ture, but distinct species. Desiderata in our menageries . . 274 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE WATER HEN. 



Undomesticable, and of paradoxical habits. Their familiar 

 aution. Attracted by luxuriant water- weeds. Will have their 

 own way. Mode of travelling under water. And on the sur- 

 face. Post mortem. Proofs of creative design. Habits of the 

 young. Rare water-rail. Aldrovandi's uncertainty. Versa- 

 tility of Water Hens. Modes of escape. Water Hens in St. 

 James's Park. Water Hens about country houses. Odd noises. 

 Activity of the young. Usual nesting-places. Prolific 

 breeders 280 



CHAPTER V. 



KINGFISHERS. 



Halcyon of the ancients ; what 1 Aldrovandi's figures and de- 

 scriptions. Nest of Halcyon. Haunts and habits of the King- 

 fisher. Anecdote. How far destructive to fish. To procure 

 young birds. To rear and feed 'them. Captive Kingfishers. 

 Mr. Rayner's aviary. Diet and habits of Kingfishers there. 

 Mode of eating. Their pugnacity. Destructiveness of a 

 Heron. Unsociability of Kingfishers. Management in a cap- 

 tive state. African Kinghunters. Australian Kingfishers. 

 The Laughing Jackasses , . . . . . .297 



