112 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[May 



parental care displayed ; nor is such a sight likely to lessen that 

 admiration of the kingfisher which was first called forth by the beauty 

 of its plumage. 



The family of birds of which our kingfisher is typical (Alcedinidse) 

 comprises about one hundred and fifty species grouped into several 

 genera, and is of world-wide distribution, though most numerously 

 represented in the Indian and Malayan regions. Some of the tropical 

 species are not fish-eaters, preying rather on small reptiles, insects, and 

 the like. All are boldly and brightly coloured. 



The curious Halcyon myth of the ancient Greeks is associated with 

 the kingfisher, of which, in fact, Halcyon is the Greek name. Alcyone 

 having been warned by the gods in a dream that her husband Ceyx 

 had been drowned whilst on a voyage to consult one of the oracles, 

 went down to the shore, and finding his body, threw herself in her 

 passionate grief into the sea. She and her husband were changed into 

 kingfishers ; and during the time that their eggs are hatching in their 

 nest floating on the surface of the sea, — the period of incubation 

 being the weeks preceding and following the winter solstice, — the seas 

 are calm and safe. With slight variations, this myth, circulated 

 widely, was often alluded to by the later Latin poets, e.g., Virgil, 

 " dilectae Thetidi alcyones," and the term " halcyon days " has passed 

 into our own literature as expressive of a period of calm and peaceful 

 enjoyment. Dryden sings : — 



" Amidst our arms as quiet you shall be 

 As halcyons brooding on a winter's sea." 



ACIPTILIA MIGADACTYLA, HAW. (SPILODACTYLA, CURT.) — VIDE 



ANTE pp. 77, 100. 



Having received the following post-card from Mr. Tutt, respecting 

 the paragraph as it appeared on page 100 of this journal, we have 

 decided to reprint the reply verbatim, so that our readers may judge the 

 question for themselves. — The Editors. 



"As I am not at all anxious to see my name in print, I would be exceedingly obliged 

 if at any future time any entomological communications wh. I may make to the 

 Mag. be printed as I send them or returned. I have got to that condn. of 

 mind in wh. I understand what I want to tell the EntomK public better than 

 anyone else can understand or tell them for me. Excuse my speaking plainly 

 but I must insist that you either print what I write or leave it out altogether. To 

 have my name attached to what you have pubd. in the Brit. Nat. (page 100) is 

 rather a fraud on an educated man's knowledge of grammar as well as on his ability 

 to tell people what he wants to say. Please don't hesitate to return anything I may 

 send wh. is unsuitable for the Magazine but in future don't alter it. I would be 

 pleased if in the next issue you would add that I am disinclined to take the respon- 

 sibility of the note as you have written it." 



