298 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



[Kingfishers. 



past me trout lurking beneath the concealment 

 of some stone or in the shadow of the bank — the 

 roach and dace pursuing their course. At length, 

 attracted by a floating insect, one rises to take the 

 prize ; at that instant, like a shot, down descends 

 the glittering bird, the crystal water scarcely bub- 

 bling with its plunge ; the next moment it re- 

 appears, bearing its victim in its beak, with which 

 it returns to its resting piace ; without loosing its 

 hold, it passes the fish between its mandibles, till 

 it has fairly grasped it by the tail ; then by striking 

 smartly its head three or four times against the 

 branch, ends its struggles, reverses its position, and 

 swallows it whole. Quiet secluded nooks, seldom 

 disturbed by the intrusion of any save the " honest 

 angler," sheltered spots of the river margined with 

 alders and willows, mill-dams, surrounded by tran- 

 quil pastoral scenery, are the favourite haunts of 

 this bird. Its mate is its only companion, and both 

 labour assiduously in the support of their young. 

 The place chosen for incubation is the bank of the 

 river where it is steep or overhanging, and here it 

 either constructs, or appropriates to itself, a burrow 

 two or three feet in extent, bearing diagonally up- 

 wards. It is said to select not unfrequently the old 

 burrow of a water-rat, but of this we are not con- 

 vinced ; at all events we have seen the holes of the 

 kingfisher half-way down the steep and perfectly 

 rperpendicular face of banks, which the water-rat 

 ftcould not have made, and which, we have no doubt, 

 were the work of the birds themselves. At the end 

 .-of the gallery is a little chamber, and here, without 

 making any nest, the female lays her eggs, from 

 five to seven in number, and of a clear pinky white. 

 While engaged in the work of incubation the female 

 is supplied by her industrious mate, and as the fish- 

 bones and scales are disgorged (for, like owls, the 

 kingfisher recasts the indigestible parts of its food), 

 a circle of these rejectanea surround the eggs, 

 which, after the young are hatched, is greatly 

 increased, and hence has arisen the supposition 

 that of pellets of fish-bones is the nest composed. 

 The young are clamorous for food, uttering an in- 

 cessant cry; they soon acquire their brilliant plu- 

 mage, and when able to leave their abode, follow 

 their parents, and resting on a branch in some 

 lonely retreat, tax the industry of their parents. 

 They are, however, soon able to fish for themselves. 

 The kingfisher performs a sort of limited migra- 

 tion: when winter sets in, and drives the fish from 

 the shallows to deep and sheltered bottoms, freezes 

 the mill-dams, or coats with ice the sluggish basin 

 worked out by the river's current in rich alluvial 

 soil, these birds wander from the interior to the 

 -coast, and frequent the mouths of rivulets, entering 

 .large navigable rivers, dikes near the sea, and 

 .similar places, especially on the southern portion of 

 our island. This circumstance was not unknown 

 to Belon, and in his ' Portraits d'Oyseaux,' under 

 the cut of the kingfisher he gives the following 

 " quatrain -." — 



" Le Martinet-pescheur fait sa demeure 

 En temps d'hyver au bord de l'ocean, 

 Et en este, sur la riviere ou estan, 

 Et de poisson se repaist a toute heme." 



The colouring of this beautiful bird is as follows : 

 Bill blackish brown, reddish at the base. Behind 

 each eye is a patch of light orange brown, suc- 

 ceeded by a white one. From each corner of the 

 under mandible proceeds a streak of verditer blue, 

 tinged with verdigris green. Crown of the head 

 deep olive green, the feathers tipped with verdigris 

 green. From the nape of the neck to the tail is a 

 strip of verditer blue feathers, tinged in some shades 

 with verdigris green. Chin and throat yellowish 

 white. Breast, belly, and vent orange brown, 

 palest towards the under tail-coverts. Tail green- 

 ish blue; the shafts of the feathers black. Legs 

 pale tile red. (Selby.) 



The hides are hazel. The bill of the female is 

 not so long as in the other sex. The colours also 

 .are deeper and more of a green shade. Length, 

 seven inches. 



1351.— The Sacred Kingfisher 



{Todiramphus sacer). The Sacred Kingfisher (with 

 other allied species) is a native ol the islands of the 

 South Seas. These birds inhabit woods, and perch 

 almost constantly on the cocoa-palms. Their nourish- 

 ment appears to consist almost exclusively of small 

 flies ; these they catch, when settling on the spathes 

 loaded with the flowers of the palm. The islanders 

 name these birds O-tatare, and used to regard them 

 as sacred, severe penalties being inflicted on those 

 who destroyed them. 



In the islands of Tahiti, Borabora, &c, the pre- 

 sent species is very common, frequenting the cocoa- 

 nut trees, which form girds on the shores of those 

 islands. Its flight is short, and it is not timid. Ac- 

 cording to Latham it has been found in Dusky Bay, 

 New Zealand. 



The total length of this beautiful bird is about 

 nine inches. Bill black, white at the origin of the 



lower mandible ; summit of the head covered with 

 brownish srreen feathers, which form a sort of hood, 

 separated by a large white streak which rises on the 

 front, passes above the eyes, and continues behind 

 the occiput. A large black line springs from the 

 eye, and taking a tinge of green and then of brown, 

 forms a border to the white line and circumscribes 

 it. Throat, breast, and all the upper part of the 

 body pure white ; a very large, whitish, demicollar, 

 waved with light brown and very light chestnut, oc- 

 cupies the upper part of the mantle and is bordered 

 with black ; the back, coverts of the wings, rump, 

 upper part of the tail and wings, are uniform 

 bluish green ; primaries brown and blue on their 

 external edges, secondary lapped with brown ; tarsi 

 black. 



1352. — The Burung-biru 



(Ceyx Meninting). The Burung-biru, or Menin- 

 ting watu of the Javanese ; Alcedo Biru, Hors- 

 field. 



The genus Ceyx has only two feeble anterior toes 

 and a hind-toe ; the bill is straight and sharp. The 

 tail very short. 



Dr. Horsfield describes the Burung-biru as by no 

 means uncommon in Java. He observed it chiefly 

 in the interior in low situations, but it was also found 

 in the maritime districts. Its habits and manners 

 were those of the European kingfisher. It darts in 

 short, rapid flights along the surface, over rivulets 

 and lakes, emitting as it moves shrill sounds in a 

 high key. These sounds are so strong and acute, 

 that when the bird is near they strike the ear in an 

 unpleasant manner. It is not unfrequently observed 

 perched on trees on the banks of rivulets, and its 

 food consists of small fishes and aquatic insects. 

 This species is found also in New Guinea. 



1353.— The Luqon Ceyx 



{Ceyx tridactyla ? Alcedo tridactyla^ Latham). 

 This species, which inhabits the Isle of Lucon, is 

 described by Sonnerat as about one-third less than 

 the European kingfisher, and as one of the most 

 brilliant of birds. The upper surface is of a deep 

 lilac ; the wings deep glossy indigo blue, with a 

 border of shining light blue round each feather. 

 Under parts white ; bill of a pale carmine red ; feet 

 red. Colonel Sykes notices the Ceyx tridactyla 

 among the birds of the Dukhun. 



1354. — The Great Senegal Kingfisher 

 (Ispida gigantea). This large species, a repre- 

 sentative of the subgenus Ispida of Swainson, is a 

 native of Senegal ; above it is cinereous spotted 

 with white : chin and cheeks white : breast with a 

 broad rufous band; head above black, crested be- 

 hind. 



Of the manners of this species, excepting that 

 they generally resemble those of the common king- 

 fisher, and other species of the genus Alcedo, 

 nothing is definitely known. 



1355. — The New Holland Kingfisher 



{Alcyone Avstralis). The genus Alcyone differs 

 from Alcedo only in the feet, having three toes, 

 two before. In its habits and manners this beau- 

 tiful bird resembles our British species, having the 

 same rapid arrow-like flight and the same mode of 

 darting on its prey. It haunts streams and rivers, 

 perching on the branches of dead trees, and from 

 its post of observation plunges into the water be- 

 neath, seldom missing its finny victim. The body 

 above and the sides of the head and neck are 

 shining mazarine blue, under parts rufous; throat 

 whitish ; wings dusky black. It is described and 

 figured by Mr. Swainson (' Zool. Ulus.,' 1st series) 

 under the title of Alcedo azurea. 



1356. — The Tern ate Kingfisher 

 (Tanysiptera Dea); Alcedo Dea, Linn.; Martin- 

 pecheur de Ternate, Buffon. In the genus Tany- 

 siptera the bill is rather short and thick, straight 

 and acute; the tail is graduated; the two middle 

 tail-feathers the longest. This beautifully-coloured 

 bird is a native of the Moluccas, and it mostly 

 happens that the specimens brought to Europe are 

 destitute of the wings and legs. According to Mr. 

 Vigors, this bird links the true kingfishers to the 

 Jacamars (Galbula) (approaching most nearly to 

 the Paradise Jacamar), and resembling those birds 

 in its habits, which, however, are not very fully 

 ascertained. 



This species is intense black-azure above, white 

 beneath; head and wing-coverts coerulean blue; 

 tail-feathers white, margined with coerulean ; the 

 two middle ones coerulean, running out narrow, and 

 ending spatulate, the web of the terminal portion 

 being white. 



1357.— The Broad-Billed Lamprotila 

 (Lamprotila platyrhyncha). Mr. Swainson, who 

 founded the genus Lamprotila, gives the following 

 characters :— Plumage metallic green and gold ; 



bill very broad, and dilated ridge curved; nostrils 

 membranaceous, protected by feathers ; the wings 

 in form approaching those of the jacamars; the 

 thud and fifth quill-feathers equal. ' 



This bird, the plumage of which glitters with 

 changeable metallic hues of burnished green and 

 gold, appears to resemble the jacamars in its habits, 

 darting from its perch at insects as they pass, and 

 returning to its post of observation. We have yet 

 much to learn respecting its economy. 



1358.— The Paradise Jacamar 



(Galbula paradisea) ; the Swallow-tailed King- 

 fisher of Edwards. The genus Galbula is distin- 

 guished by its metallic plumage ; by the bill bein°- 

 very long, perfectly straight, and greatly corn- 

 pressed; wings short; tail lengthened and gra- 

 duated ; toes in pairs (zygodactylous), or the hind- 

 toe wanting: nostrils with a few strong bristles 

 Cuvier, who places the jacamars in the 'Scansoriai 

 order, observes that in either points they approach 

 the kingfishers; and both Mr. Vigors and Mr 

 Swainson, as well as Mr. G. Gray, assion them to 

 the family of the latter. The jacamars°are recluse 

 birds, tenanting extensive woods ; " they Generally 

 sit on low naked branches in the forest path! 

 whence they dart upon butterflies, spearin°- them 

 with their long bill ; their haunts, indeed, may fre- 

 quently be known by the ground being strewed with 

 the beautiful wings of their victims, the body of 

 which alone they devour." All the species are 

 American. The Paradise Jacamar is a native of 

 Surinam : its size somewhat exceeds that of a lark ■ 

 the general colour is golden green; the throat! 

 neck, and lesser wing-coverts are white ; the head 

 violaceous brown; the bill and feet, the latter of 

 which are feathered to the toes, black ; the two 

 central tail-feathers are the longest. 



1359. — The Mexican Motmot 



(Prionites Mexicanns). Generic character : — Both 

 mandibles slightly curved and compressed ; the 

 margins with strong denticulations. Tongue long, 

 slender; the sides ciliated. Wings short, rounded. 

 Tail lengthened, cuneated. Feet gressorial, as in 

 Merops. (Sw.) 



Mr. Swainson (' Classification of Birds ') remarks 

 that every writer since the days of Linnaeus (who at 

 first actually classed them in the same genus) has 

 placed the motmots (Prionites) and the toucans 

 (Ramphastos) close together, not only from the 

 similarity of their hahits, but from the structure of 

 the tongue, which in both is long, and so much 

 ciliated at its sides as to resemble a feather; so far, 

 therefore, he observes, the resemblance is unques- 

 tionable. "But," continues Mr. Swainson, "the 

 feet of the motmot are totally different from the 

 toucan ; they are not scansoriai, but of that parti- 

 cular structure so common among the Fissirostres. 

 The toucans we know, from personal observation, to 

 be gregarious, living in flocks, and seeking their 

 food from the tops of lofty trees : the motmot is 

 solitary, hiding in the deep shades of the forests, 

 and, like other air-feeding birds, is always found 

 sitting nearly motionless. Here, then, is a very 

 obvious departure from the structure and habits of 

 the toucan. The question then is, to what does it 

 lead ? If to the hornbills (which has been inferred 

 from the structure of the feet), we should have no 

 diminution in the size of the bill, which in both the 

 hornbills and toucans is equally large, but in the 

 motmot of an ordinary and proportionate size : we 

 should further expect a bird which was gregarious, 

 since both these groups are so. Yet there is nothing 

 in the motmot, beyond its feet, which will at all 

 assimilate it to the perchers; while its fissirostral 

 habit of catching its food upon the wing, and the 

 discovery of the broad-billed species, Prionites pla- 

 tyrhynchus, seems to us a conclusive argument for 

 placing this genus in the fissirostral order, as more 

 intimately connected to the jacamars (Galbula) than 

 to any other known genus. 



Mr. Swainson (' Zool. Illus.') states that the mot- 

 mots or momots, " so named from their monotonous 

 note, live only in the tropical forests of the New 

 World, preferring those deep recesses of perpetual 

 shade where a high canopy of matted foliage nearly 

 excludes the rays of a vertical sun. They appear 

 even more solitary in their disposition than the 

 trogons ; their note may be heard, morning and 

 evening, from the depths of the forests, but the bird 

 is never seen, unless the hunter comes unexpectedly 

 upon its retreat. This we have generally found to 

 be a low withered branch completely shaded and 

 just at the edge of such paths as are made by the 

 Cavies or the Indians. The jacamars and the tro- 

 gons both love these shady nooks, where they sit 

 nearly motionless, watching for passing insects, on 

 which they dart. Such is, no doubt, the manner in 

 which the motmot feeds ; but his strong conforma- 

 tion enables him to capture larger game. Travellers 

 assert that he also devours the eggs and young of 



