228 BELTED KINGSFISKER. 
stance, and its characteristic appearance, make it as universally known 
here as its elegant little brother, the Common Kingsfisher of Europe, is 
in Britam. Like the lovelorn. swains, of whom poets tell us, he 
delights “n murmuring streams and falling waters; not, however, 
vision of them into various groups, by almost all ornithologists; that to which our 
present species belongs, and of which it is the largest, contains all those of smaller 
size with four toes and sbarp angular and lengthened bills ; they feed entirely on 
fish and aquatic insects, and live on the banks of rivers, lakes, and creeks, and 
occasionally on the sea-shore. They are distributed over the world, but the 
warmer parts of India, Africa, and South America, possess the greatest share, 
North America and Europe possessing only one each. ‘Lhe colors of the plumage, 
with a few exceptions, particularly the upper parts, are very bright and shining, the 
webs of the feathers unconnected and loose ; the under parts generatly white, with 
shades of reddish brown and orange ; the division nearest to this, containing but a 
few species of very small size, but-similarin form and coloring, has been separated 
on account of having three toes, and, I believe, is exclusively Indian. Another 
and a well-marked group is the Haleyon of Mr. Swainson ; it differs materially in 
the form and manners of living, and ranges every where, except in North America 
and Europe. The birds are all above the middle size, with a stouter and more 
robust form; the colors sometimes very gaudy, in others of rich and pleasing 
shades of brown. ‘The bill, a chief organ of distinction, is large, much dilated at 
the base, and, in one -or two instances, very strong. They inhabit moist woods 
and shady streams or creeks, where they watch on a motionless perch for the larger 
insects, as the common European species does for fish, and they dart upon them 
when passing, or when seen on the ground, and return again to the same branch or 
rock; they also chase their prey in the manner of the Flycatchers. Notwithstand- 
ing these are their common food, fish, water insects, in a few instances crabs, are 
resorted to, and in all cases the vicinity of water seems requisite for their health 
support. There is an individual (Alcedo dea) which has been separated from this 
under the name of Tanysiptera; the only, distinction, now, (for it has four toes,) is 
the elongation of two tail-feathers, which exceed the length of the body consider- 
ably ; it was originally discovered in the Isle of Ternate, and, according to Lesson, 
is abundant in New Guinea, where it is’ killed by the natives for ornaments, an 
those coming to this country, being impaled .on reeds, are consequently much muti- 
lated. Another division will comprise the very large New Holland species, undez 
the title of Dacelo ;* this contains yet only two species, commonly known by the 
name of “ Laughing Jackasses ;”” by the natives they are called Cuck’unda; the 
are nearly as large as a Common Pigeon, and have all the members very powerful ; 
the bill is much dilated, and bent at the tip 5: meres to Lesson, their chief food 
is large insects, which they seize on the ground; that ornithologist extends the 
genus to several of the larger-billed small species; we would now restrict it as 
bearing better marks to those of New Holland only, D. gigantea and Leachii. 
“Another division has been formed among these curious birds, also by M. Lesson, 
of the Alcedo oF of Cuvier, under the name of Syma, and, as a specific appel- 
lation, that of Yorotora, by which it is known to the Papous, in its native country, 
New Guinea. , It frequents rivers and the sea-shores, and feeds on fish; the priu- 
cipal distinction for which it has been separated is a serrature of the mandibles of 
the bill. M. Lesson, however, did not perceive any thing different from its con- 
Sais to which this structure could be applied. From the above remarks it will 
e seen that the old genus Alcedo has been separated into no tess than nine di- 
visions. Four of these will, perhaps, only be necessary, and are as follows:— 
1. Alcedo; having the form of Alcedo ispida ; feeding principally on fish; the geo- 
paerieal distribution, the known world, except very northern latitudes; the num- 
er of species and individuals increasing from the extremes. 2. Halcyon; the 
form of Sanctus, cinamomeus, omnidolor, &c.; containing Lesson’s Todyrampus ; 
also, perhaps, his Syma, and the Tanystptera of Vigors; the two latter groups, as 
* M. Lesson proposes 9 genus (Todyrampus) for all the smaller New Holland species, 
taking 4. sacra as the type, on account. principally, of the more dilated bill. THe same 
entleman proposes the titles Melidora and Chowcal yon, to designate forms among the 
ingsiishers which I have not ascertaine . 
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