168 



THE KINGFISHER. 



short duration, the bird is enabled to escape with 

 impunity from the deep, in which, or on which, 

 were it to remain for a very little time, death would 

 inevitably be its fate. 



These undeniable circumstances have induced me 

 to wish for the restoration of the kingfisher to its 

 former situation amongst the land birds ; for I feel 

 reluctant to admit that the single act of procuring 

 its food from the water should be thought a sufficient 

 reason for removing it from its old associates, and 

 placing it amongst strangers, with whom it can 

 neither dive nor swim, nor even float with any chance 

 of safety. If the kingfisher is to be considered a 

 water bird merely because it draws its sustenance 

 from the water, then our modern innovators ought 

 to consider the osprey in the same light : and even 

 the barn owl might give them a hint that she feels 

 inclined to seek a new acquaintance ; for I myself 

 have seen her plunge into the water, bring out a 

 fish, and convey it to her nest. Indeed, the swallow, 

 with a still better grace, might ask permission to 

 form a new division, distant both from land and 

 water birds, and call it ethereal ; because it pro- 

 cures the whole of its sustenance from insects in the 

 circumambient air. 



When I remarked above that the feet of the 

 kingfisher are not webbed, I did not wish it to be 

 understood, that I consider the webbed foot essen- 

 tially necessary to the act of swimming. The water 

 hen is an expert swimmer, without having the feet 

 webbed ; but then its form and plumage, so different 

 from the form and plumage of land birds, enable it 



