174 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [16:4— April, 1920 



into his interesting personality. Because we think that your 

 interest has been aroused we shall add a few words about his rela- 

 tives. It may be you will inquire into their life. Our kingfisher 

 has very many relatives in the malay Archipelago. In fact, they 

 are most numerous there, making the majority of the one hundred 

 and ninety known species. There are only seven American species, 

 all contained in the genus Ceryle (our own angler is Ceryle alcyon), 

 which has also five representatives in Africa and India. Our seven 

 species are confined chiefly to the tropics, only one advancing north 

 of southern Texas. This one, our own, goes south late in autumn, 

 winters in the Gulf States, and returns north early in spring. 



Just one more word. Some people advocate shooting the king- 

 fisher at every opportunity, and, in some places, men have made 

 laws to exterminate him claiming that he destroys too many young 

 trout. But the Kingfisher eats very few trout comparatively. 

 He lives largely on the kind of fish that are of little or no use to man. 

 What if he does catch an occasional trout to eat' Is man the 

 proper defender of the trout? Man who never destroys? Man 

 who never wastes ! The kingfisher was here long before man came ; 

 he must have some rights, at least the right to live a secluded life 

 along the waterways where there are no trout. What shall we 

 gain by his extermination? What shall we not lose? 



We must be content to enjoy the kingfisher as a feature in the 

 landscape, as the center of a picture of woods, ponds, or river, to 

 which he gives the needful touch of life. The river scenery in early 

 Spring is lifeless and dreary, for, if the snow has melted and the ice 

 broken up, the bushes along shore are beaten down by the storms 

 of winter or partly submerged by the spring freshets. Here and 

 there, in sunny spots on the low shore, we may see the purple- 

 pointed hood and bright green leaves of the skunk-cabbage, but if a 

 kingfisher is perching on a dead branch overhanging the water, 

 crest erect, eyes alert for a fish to pass, the scene becomes full of 

 interest. 



Man, you are a divine creature. You have committed sins 

 enough when you have subordinated your wholesome prides and 

 desires to your greed for gain. Do not taint, do not poison the 

 honor and dignity of human life any more than you have already 

 done. Nature has furnished you the models without which you 

 could not have reached your present height. Do not show your 

 gratitude by destroying these very models. 



