6o8 K I N G S F I S H E R. 



N°32. Black-breafted K. W 34. Supercilious K. 



.""33. Surinam K. 35. White- billed JQ. 



* * W I T H THREE TOES. 



36 Three- toed K. 



THE charadters of this genus are : 

 The bill long, ftrong, ft rait, iharp-pointed. 

 Noftrils. fmall j and in many fpecieshid in the feathers. 

 Tongue fhort, broad, fharp-pointed. 



Legs fhort, three toes forward, and one backward * : three 

 lower joints of the middle toe joined clofely to thofe of the outmoft. 



Every part of the world is furnifhed with one or other of the 

 Kingsfijher tribe ; but it is believed that Europe pontiles only a 

 fingle fpecies. Moft, of the genus frequent rivers, and live on 

 fifth, the Angularity of catching which is admirable : fometimes 

 • ' hovering over the water, where a ftioal of fmall fifties is feen play- 

 ins near the furface ; at other times waiting with attention, on fome 

 low branch, hanging over the water, for the approach of a fingle 

 one, who is fo unlucky as to fwirri that way ; in either cafe drop- 

 ping like a ftone, or rather darting with rapidity on his prey, when, 

 ieizing it crofs-ways in his bill, it retires to a refting- place, to feaffc 

 on it ; which it does piecemeal, bones and all, without referve, 

 afterwards bringing up the indigeftible parts in pellets, like birds 

 of prey. 



The wings of moft of the genus are very fhort, yet the birds 

 fly rapidly, and with great ftrength. 



* One fpecies excepted, which has but three toes in all. 



It 



