KINGFISHER. 195 



INSESSORES. 



FISSJROSTRES. HALCY0N1DJE. 



PLATE XXXIX. 



KINGFISHER. 

 alcedo ispida. {Linn.) 



The figure of this beautiful bird was taken from a living 

 specimen that we had for some time in confinement, which 

 was accustomed to feed itself with minnows and other small 

 fish from a stone jar that stood on the table, and this feat 

 was repeated many times in the day. 



The Kingfisher surpasses all other British birds in the 

 brilliancy and changeableness of its colouring, which varies 

 with every change of position, from the most brilliant tor- 

 quoise-blue to the warmest green in the lighter parts of its 

 plumage, and in the darker reflecting copper and gold. In 

 our plate we have chosen the blue appearance, as the most 

 beautiful, and the one most frequently to be seen in its 

 living state when on the wing, as it shoots across the ob- 

 server's path like a bright stream of phosphoric light. In 

 its green livery it is seldom seen in a wild state, unless when 

 the light of the sun is reflected strongly from it, on account 

 of its assimilation with the surrounding herbage. When 

 dead, and preserved for a cabinet, its plumage has a dull 

 blueish or muddy-green appearance, and the brilliant tints 

 of life have vanished. In colouring this bird from the 

 life, both in this and in the quarto edition, we have drawn 

 upon ourselves the imputation of over-colouring our plate, 



