THE KINGFISHER. 101 



their parents, who, in their turn, each sport an azure 

 mantle and cinnamon breast, not being addicted to 

 invidious sexual distinctions in dress, though the 

 hen alone shows a red streak on the bill. But 

 ' brilliant as is the little Kingfisher, he is quite eclipsed 

 by his larger relative, the White-breasted species 

 {Hahyon smymensis). This bird is as big as a thrush 

 and is most richly attired in skyblue and chocolate, 

 set off by a white shirt-front and red bill and feet. 

 He is, in fact, quite the showiest bird we have in 

 ■Calcutta, and is more in evidence generally than 

 the small species, since he does not confine himself 

 to water, feeding on worms, grasshoppers, &c., as 

 well as aquatic prey. Indeed, he does not seem to 

 be much of a fisher, for when he does strike at 

 something in the water, he glides down slantingly 

 and touches ^the surface in a very half-hearted way, 

 although when taking his bath he dashes in boldly 

 enough. Obtrusive as he is in colours, he is still 

 more so in voice, and deems it necessary whenever 

 he takes wing to let the neighbourhood know he is 

 moving by uttering a loud unpleasant cackle. Occa- 

 sionally, presumably when under the influence of the 

 tender passion, he will fly erratically about uttering 

 a waihng note ; but his flight is not swift at any time, 

 and very different from the arrow-like progress of 

 his little kinsman. The two seem to get on all right 



