369 



THE KINGFISHER. 



Alcedo Ispida, Linn. 



Is at least occasionally to be met with in suitable localities 

 throughout the island. 



It is nowhere numerous. As many individuals, however, would 

 seem to be distributed over districts favourable for their abode in 

 Ireland, as in any other country. 



The kingfisher is generally said by British authors to be partial 

 to clear streams, but to the correctness of this remark its haunts 

 around Belfast will not bear testimony. Here are streams, which, 

 though not on a grand scale, partake more or less of every natural 

 character, and gently flow or wildly rush through scenery the most 

 varied; yet the muddy, sluggish Lagan is its favourite haunt. 

 About waters of every description it may be seen, not excepting 

 the deep and unpicturesque brick-pits, near to which no tree or 

 shrub appears. 



There is decidedly a partial migration or movement of these birds. 

 They came regularly every year about the same time in the month 

 of August, to ponds at our own residence in the country, con- 

 tiguous to the mountains, and elevated 500 feet above the sea. 

 They remained generally for about six weeks, and once only were 

 seen in winter. Their first appearance in the year 1831 was on the 

 4th of August; in 1833 on the 14th; in 1834 on the 14th; and 

 in 1835 on the 17th of that month.* Although more frequently 

 solitary, two were occasionally seen in company, and in one instance 

 three, of which a couple were believed to be young birds, from 

 being less brilliant in plumage, and more slow in flight than the 

 other. Their usual haunts here are the willowed banks of ponds, 

 one of which is not more than thirty yards distant from the dwell- 

 ing-house. At little more than this distance we were once amused 



* Intelligent persons resident on the banks of the Lagan, near Belfast, state, that 

 kingfishers appear there in the autumn and remain until March, when they disap- 

 pear. This accords with the observation of Mr. Weir, who, writing from Linlith- 

 gowshire, remarks, — " In my neighbourhood, kingfishers are never seen before the 

 beginning of September, and they usually disappear about the end of March. They 

 then retire to the river Avon, where they breed." — Macgillivray's Brit. Birds, 

 vol. iii. p. 679. 



VOL. I. 2 B 



