‘Kine’s-FisHer. ALCYONES. ALCEDO. 121 
Common King’s-Fisher.—Alcedo Ispida, Linz. 
PLATE 40. Fig. 1. 
Alcedo Ispida, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 179. 3.—Gmel. Syst. p. 448. sp. 3.—Lath. 
Ind. Ornith. v. 1. p. 252. sp. 20.—Raii, Syn. p. 48. A. 1.—Will. p. 101. 
t. 24._Briss. 4. p. 471. 1. 
Gracula Atthis, Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 398. sp. 8.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. v. 1. p. 192. 
sp. 10. 
Ispida Senegalensis, Briss. 4. p. 485. 7. t. 39. f. 1. 
Le Martin Pecheur, Buff: Ois. v. 7. p. 164. t. 9. 
Le Baboucard, Id. v. 7. p. 193.—Id. Pl. Enl. 77. 
Martin Pecheur Alcyon, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. v. 1. p. 423. 
Gemeine Eis Vogel, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. v. 2. p.1106.— Meyer, Tasschenb. 
Deut. v. 1. p. 134.—Frisch, t. 223. 
King’s-Fisher, Br. Zool. 1. No. 88. t. 38.—Arct. Zool. 2. p. 280. A.—Albin, 
1. t. 54.—_Will. (Ang.) p. 146. t. 24._Lath. Syn. 2. p. 626. 16.—Id. Sup. 
p- 115.—ZLewin’s Br. Birds, 2. t. 52.—Mont. Ornith. Dict.—Jd. Sup.— 
Beuick’s Br. Birds, v. 2. t. 19.—Pult. Cat. Dorset. p. 6.—Walc. Syn. 1. 
t. 52.—Don. Br. Birds, 4. t. 100.—Shaw’s Zool. 8. p. 88. 
This splendid little bird is indigenous in Britain, and, in Locality. 
point of locality, is rather generally, though sparingly, diffused. 
It inhabits the banks of clear rivers and brooks, preferring 
_those that flow with an easy current, and whose beds are 
margined with willows, alders, or close bushes. It is usually 
seen perched upon a small bough overhanging the stream, 
from whence it darts upon the small fish and aquatic insects, Food. 
that form its food. 
Sometimes it will hover suspended (in the manner of the 
kestrel and some other hawks) over the water, and precipi- 
tate itself upon its prey, when risen to the surface. Upon 
making a capture, it conveys the object to land, and, after 
beating it to death upon a stone, or on the ground, swallows 
it whole. The bones and other indigestible parts are after- 
wards ejected in small pellets, by the mouth.—Its flight is Flight. 
very rapid, and sustained by a quickly repeated motion of 
the wings, and is always in a straight and horizontal direc- 
tion, near to the surface of the water. These birds breed in 
the banks of the streams they haunt, either digging a hole 
themselves, or taking possession of that of a water-rat, which 
they afterwards enlarge, to suit their convenience. The bear- 
