cept the Roller, (Coracias Garrula. Lki.) and the Bee- 

 Eater, (Merops Apiafler. Lin.) neither of which are 

 natives of Britain, though the former has fometimes 

 been feen as an accidental flraggler. The Kingfifher is 

 a bird of a retired and folkary difpofition, and as from 

 the nature of its food, (which confifts entirely of fmall 

 filhj) it is moft commonly found near ftreams and un- 

 frequented places, it has therefore been fixed upon as 

 an emblem of melancholy, and an example of dazzling 

 beauty, in a ftate of voluntary retirement. " Flumina 

 amem fylvafque" feems to be its motto, and it is rarely 

 feen except in fnch lituations. If difturbed, it darts 

 along in a rapid horizontal motion, and difplays a tran- 

 fitory glance of colour which is alrnoft equal in -luftre 

 to the wings of the Papilio Menelaus. Sometimes it 

 may be feen fufpended over the ftream in the manner 

 of a hawk, and rapidly vibrating its expanded wings, 

 when its colour is ftill more beautifully confpicuous. 

 The Kingfifher builds in deep holes in the banks of 

 rivers, and fometimes of ftagnant waters. It lays from 

 five to feven or even nine eggs. The male and female 

 bear an extreme refemblance to each other. The King- 

 fifher is generally fuppofed to be the true Halcyon of 

 the ancients' which was believed to build a floating 

 neft. In order to account for this erroneous idea, we 

 need only fuppofe that the nefts of fome of the Colymbi 

 or Grebes were mi (taken for thofe of the Halcyon : 

 fome of the Colymbi do really build floating nefts of 

 aquatic plants, &c, which though placed amongft the 

 reeds contiguous to the banks, are yet fo loofe as oc- 

 cafionally to be carried to fome little di fiance on the 

 furiaca of the water. 



