KINGFISHERS. 



Alcedinidae. 



LCEDINID^ or Kingfishers form a very natural family of the great 

 Picarian order, and are alike remarkable for their brilliant coloration 

 and for the variety of curious and aberrant forms which are included 



/^ within their number; They are very characteristic birds, sitting 

 motionless on an overhanging dead branch or on a tree stump 



watching for their prey, to dart after it, seize it on the wing, and return to 

 their original position to swallow it. They nest in holes and lay white 

 eggs. "It is, however, to be remarked that, in accordance with a modifica- 

 tion of the habits of the various genera, a corresponding modification has 

 taken place in the mode of nidification, the piscivorous section of the family 

 nesting for the most part in holes in the banks of streams, while the insec- 

 tivorous section of the family generally nest in the holes of trees, not 

 necessarily in the vicinity of water." (Sharpe.) 



According to Mr. Sharpe's splendid monograph of this family there are in all about 

 one hundred and twenty-five species, the bulk of which occurs in the eastern half of 

 the Malayan Archipelago from Celebes to New Guinea. 



The family is represented in North America by only one geniis. 

 Genus Ceryle Boie. Three species. 



BELTED KINGFISHER, 



Ceryle alcyon BoiE. 



Plate XXXIII. Fig. 2. 



kN picturesque mill-ponds, near small inland lakes, on rivers and creeks, especially 

 those bordered by woods, the Belted Kingfisher is a very conspicuous and 

 familiar bird. In such places it forms quite a feature in the landscape and its vehement 

 call-notes, sounding sharply like sre-sre-sre, are heard throughout the day and even 



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