COMMON KINGFISHER. 



ALCEDO ISPIDA, Linn. 



Alcedo ispida, lAnn. S. N. i. p. 179 (1766) ; Naum. v. p. 480; 

 Macg. iii. p. 671 ; Hewitson, i. p. 255 ; Yarr. ed. 4, ii. 

 p. 443; Dresser, v. p. 113. 



Martin Pecheur, French ; Gemeine Eisvogel, German ; 

 Martin pescador, Spanish. 



This very beautiful species is well known throughout 

 our islands, and would be exceedingly common in many 

 districts were it not for the brutal persecution it meets 

 with for the sake of its feathers, for the personal adorn- 

 ment i^) of ladies, and for the making of artificial flies. 

 I most heartily wish that any words of mine could bring 

 any of my fair readers to use their utmost efforts to 

 discountenance the wearing of any feathers, except those 

 of the Game Birds and Wildfowl to be met with in 

 abimdance, great variety, and beauty in the game- 

 dealers' sho})s during the season. 



