i88 kingfisher; ClafsII; 



feeds on fifh. To compare fmall things to great, it 

 takes its prey after the manner of the ojprey, balan- 

 cing itfelf at a certain diflance over the water for a 

 confiderable fpace, then darting below the furface, 

 brings the prey up in its feet. While it remains fuf- 

 pendedin the air, in a bright day, the plumage ex- 

 hibits a moft beautiful variety of the moft dazzling 

 and brilliant colors. This ftriking attitude did not 

 efcape the notice of the antients, for Ibycus^ as quoted 

 hy Athejiieus, ftyles thefe birds ctAKyaj/gf Tfiivt/a-zTrTSfe/ *, 

 the halcyons with expanded wings. It makes its neft 

 in holes in the fides of the cliffs, which it fcoops to 

 the depth of three feet •, and lays from five to nine 

 eggs -j-, of a moft beautiful femi-tranfparent white. 

 The neft is very fetid, by reafon of the remains of 

 the fifti. brought to feed the young. 



This fpecies is the ahxvav aipav^, or mute halcyon of 

 Ariftotle J, which he defcribes with more precifion 

 than is ufual with that great philofopher : after his 

 defcription of the bird, follows that of its neft, than 

 which the moft inventive of the antients have delivered 

 nothing tJiat appears more fabulous and extravagant. 

 He relates, that it refembled thole concretions that are 

 formed by the fea-water \ that it refembled the long 

 necked gou.'-d, that it was hollow within, that the 

 entrance v/as very narrow, fo that ft^ould it overfet 

 the water could not enter -, that it refifted any violence 

 from iron, but could be broke with a blow of the 



* P. 388. 



•J- Gef7ier fays he found nine young in one ncH, 



j tliji, cm. Sgz, 1050. 



hand 5 



