120 ALCYONES. ALCEDO. KiNne’s-FIsHER. 
Orver V. HALCYONS. ALCYONES, Vemm. 
CHARACTERS OF THE ORDER. 
The members of this new Order, established by TxEm- 
MINCK, have a long quadrangular, sharp-pointed bill, slight- 
ly curved, or straight. Tarsi short, and the three anterior 
toes united to each other ; and with one posterior toe. 
Their flight is rapid, and they generally feed on the wing, 
or by darting upon their prey in the water. They moult 
but once in the year; and the females scarcely differ from 
the males in plumage. 
Genus XVII. KING’S-FISHER. ALCEDO, Linn. 
GENERIC CHARACTERS. 
Bill long, straight, quadrangular, thick and pointed. 
Tongue fleshy, short, and armed at the point. Nostrils ba- 
sal, and lateral, pierced obliquely, and nearly closed by a na- 
ked membrane. Feet having the tarsi short, with three toes 
before, the outer toe being joined to the middle one, as far as 
the second joint; the inner one the same, as far as the jirst ; 
and with one posterior toe, large at its base. Wings, with 
the first and second quills nearly equal, but shorter than the 
third ; which last is the longest in each wing. 
The different species which compose this genus, are, with 
only one exception, natives of the other quarters of the globe, 
and are generally remarkable for splendour of - plumage. 
They are inhabitants of the banks of lakes and rivers, living 
upon fish and aquatic insects. They fly with great rapidity, 
and usually lead a solitary life. They breed in the clayey 
banks of streams, and for this purpose form deep holes, by 
the aid of their bill and feet. Their form is short and 
thick. 
