458 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



banks, or in the soft rocks, in which it hollows out a dwelling by 

 means of its bill and feet. 



The King-fishers (Alccdo), the Martin-fishers of some authors, form 

 a highly interesting group, of which Alcedo ispida (Fig. 181) is the 

 only known species indigenous to Britain. M. Vigors finds an 

 intimate resemblance between them and the Todies. The King- 

 fishers are very singular birds. Their bill is strong, straight, and 

 angular, being of immense length compared with their size ; the tip 



Fig. 181.— King-fishers. 



of both mandibles acute ; the commissure perfectly straight • the head 

 strong and elongated ; wings and tail of moderate size ; tarsi short, 

 and placed far back. Those found in Great Britain have behind 

 each eye a patch of light orange brown, succeeded by a white 

 marking ; from each corner of the mandible proceeds a line of rich 

 blue, tinged with green ; the crown of the head is deep olive green ; 

 the feathers are tipped with a verdigris shade ; chin and throat with 

 yellowish white ; breast, belly, and vent with orange brown ; tail a 

 bluish green ; shafts of the feathers black \ and the legs a pale brick 

 red. This beautiful bird is as interesting in manners as in appearance. 

 Living on the banks of rivers they feed almost exclusively on fish, 

 watching patiently from a fixed station, generally a naked [twig 



