KtNGSFISHER. 9 



Legs short, three toes before, and one behind, except in a few 

 species, which have only three toes in all ; the three lower joints of 

 the middle one united closely to those of the outermost. 



Every part of the world is furnished with one or other of the 

 Kingsfisher tribe, but it appears that Europe possesses only a single 

 species. 



Most of the Genus frequent rivers, and live on fish, the singularity 

 of catching of which is admirable : sometimes hovering over the 

 water, where a shoal of small fishes is seen playing near the surface; 

 at other times waiting with attention on some low branch, hanging 

 over the water, for the approach of one swimming within reach ; in 

 either case dropping like a stone, or rather darting with rapidity on 

 its prey ; when seizing it across in the bill, it retires to a resting- 

 place, to feast on it, which it does piecemeal, bones and all, without 

 reserve, afterwards bringing up the indigestible parts, in the manner 

 of Birds of Prey. 



The wings of most the Genus are very short, yet the birds fly 

 rapidly, and with great strength. 



1. -GREAT BROWN KINGSFISHER. 



Alcedo gigantea, Ind. Orn. i. 245. 



1 fusca, Gm. Lin. i. 454. 



Grand Martin-pecheur de la nouv. Guinee, Son. Voy. 171. t. 106. Buf. vii. 181. 



PL ml. 663. 

 Martin chasseur, Tern. Man. Ed. ii. Anal. p. lxxxviii. 

 Giant Kingsfisher, Shaw's Zool. viii. p. 53. 

 Great Brown Kingsfisher, Gen. Syn. ii. 609. Id.Sup.n. 143. White's Journ. pi. in 



p. 137. Phillip. Bot. Bay, pi. in p. 287. 



THIS is the largest species yet known ; length eighteen inches. 

 Bill very large, strong, thick at the base, bent at the end, and three 

 inches and a quarter long ; the upper mandible black, the under 



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