428 CLASS AVES. 



indeed, its natural localities are so opposite to any thing 

 which can be afforded to it in an artificial condition, and its 

 habits are so independent of mankind, that we need not 

 be surprised at the difficulty we find in our attempts to 

 domesticate this bird. Their flesh has a musky scent, and is 

 not eatable, and their fat has a reddish tinge. 



The Sacred Kingfisher, Alcedo Sacra, Gm. is nine inches 

 long. The bill is lead-coloured, with a white spot at the base 

 of the under mandible ; the general colour is light blue above, 

 and whitish underneath ; over the eyes is an arch of pale red, 

 extending to the neck, and under is a blue stripe of the same 

 length as the other. There are, however, four varieties of 

 this species known, one of which has the supercilious stripe, 

 white ; another has a black head ; the third has a greenish 

 head, and the fourth a white collar. 



This species is found in the Society Islands, New Zealand, 

 and the last mentioned, or white collared variety, is proper to 

 the Philippine Islands. The epithet sacra is given to this 

 species in consequence of the veneration paid to it by the 

 inhabitants of Otaheite, who treat it even as a divinity under 

 the name Eatua. 



On the second division of the text, of kingfishers with the 

 under mandible swollen, we find nothing connected with their 

 habits hitherto recorded, and it is needless to repeat mere 

 specific descriptions. 



The third division, proper to the remote countries of New 

 Holland, and the neighbouring islands, or some of the species 

 of it at least, seem to possess legitimate grounds for separation 

 from the rest, in the important character of their food, and 

 the habits consequent thereupon. They seem rather to be 

 inhabitants of the woods, and to feed on insects, than to fre- 

 quent the rivers and lakes for the sake of the fish. 



The opposite figure of Gaudichaud's kingfisher belongs to 

 this division. 



