6*8 K I N G S F I S H E R. 



The Kingsfifher lays its eggs, to the number of {even or n\or? } , 

 in an hole in the bank of the river or ftream it frequents, for it 

 makes no neft. It is obferved * that the remains of the fifh which 

 it feeds on, do by no means foul the habitation, as it brings up 

 the indigeftible parts in pellets, like the birds of prey, 



This bird has given rife to very many poetical and other 

 fictions, which have been treated of fo largely by my friend Mr*. 

 Pennant f } that no more need be faid on this head ; yet in one 

 thing I fhall advife the reader, which is, not to trufl his wardrobe 

 to the guardianfhip of this bird, for I have found it juft as liable 

 to be deftroyed by Moths as any other J. 



Le Martin-pefcheur du Senegal, Brif. orn. ivj p. 485. N"?. pi. 39. f. i„ 

 Le Baboucard, Buf. oif. vii. p. 193. 





16 







Va&. 



A. 



D 



ESCR.I? 



TION. 



CIZE of the laft : length fix inches and a half. The bill not 

 quite one inch and three quarters long, and brown : the head 

 and hind part of the neck are dull green ; each feather tipped 

 with a brighter green fpot : on each fide the head are two fulvous 

 fpots, the one between the bill and eye, the other behind the eye, 

 but this laft is very fmall : the back is fine blue-green, with a 

 fmall mixture of brown : rump and upper tail coverts bright 

 blue-green : the throat pale yellow : the under parts of the 

 body orange : the fcapulars dull green : the wing coverts dull 

 green, tipped with bright blue-green : quills brown ; the outer 



* Orn. de Salernt, p. 123. f Br. Zool. art. Kingsfijher. 



% This has been called Oifeau de teigne, or Drafter, and Garde boutique, from 

 its fupfofed property of preferving woollen from being deftroyed by Moths. 



edge 



