426 CLASS AVES. 



third by a triangular bill, with a furrow in the upper man- 

 dible. The last of which sections comprehends three species, 

 one of which is Alcedo Gigantea of Lath., the Fusca of Gm. 

 This species Dr. Leach has made a distinct genus, under the 

 name Dacelo, distinguished by a conical quadrangular bill, 

 opening under the eyes, the upper mandible larger than the 

 under, and strongly furrowed toward the point. 



M. Temminck admits this genus Dacelo of Leach, which 

 he calls the martin-chasseur. With reference to the insecti- 

 vorous regimen of the species, and in contradistinction to the 

 martin-pecheur, which feeds principally on fish ; and in 

 addition to the character designated by Dr. Leach as peculiar 

 to his Alcedo, M. Temminck adds, among others of less im- 

 portance, that the plumage is loose in the Alcedo, and not smooth 

 and shining, and calculated, therefore, for aquatic habits, as it 

 is in the common species. It would be a solecism in English 

 to speak of the insectivorous and piscivorous kingfishers ; and 

 if the two genera are to be considered as established, we must 

 have recourse, in conversation, to the scientific appellatives for 

 one or both, to distinguish them from each other. The Baron, 

 we may observe, in conclusion, has not deemed the insectivorous 

 regimen a sufiicient ground for a generic separation of the 

 species to which it is more particularly applicable. 



It might, perhaps, have been well if the genus Ceyx, which 

 seems to possess (if any) more merit for its classical and 

 pretty allusions than for its utility to science, had never 

 emerged from the great genus Alcedo, to which it originally 

 belonged: differing, as it appears to do, nothing from the 

 common kingfishers but in the uninfluential character of 

 being tridactylous. 



The Common Kingfisher^ which is found in Europe and in 

 Asia, is six or seven inches long. This species has no crest 

 on the head. The bill is black, but the inside of the mouth 

 is yellow ; but we shall not repeat here its specific characters. 



