SB 



SHORT-TAILED KINGFISHERS, 



COMMON KINGFISHER. 



Alcedo Ispida. J, atro-mridis^ suhtus fulva, dorso cctruleo nitidis^ 



simo, vertice maculis transverds cceruleis. 

 Bark-green Kingfisher, fuivous beneath, with briiliant-blue back, 



and crown marked by transverse blue spots. 

 Alcedo Ispida. A. hrachjurciy supra cyanea, suhtus fulva, loris 



rvjis. Lin. Si/st, Nat. 

 Ispida. Oesn, Aldrov. SfC. SfC. 

 The Kingfisher. Will. orn. Penn. Brit. ^oqL 

 Le Martin-pecheur. Buff. ois. PI, Enl. 77. 

 Common Kingfisher. Lath, syuj 



The Alcedo Ispida or Common Kingfisher is 

 the only species of this genus found in Europe, 

 where^ as well as in other parts of the Old Conti- 

 nent, it is chiefly observed in the temperate re- 

 gions. Of the British birds it is by far the most 

 brilliant, and indeed no European bird can equal 

 it in splendor of colours except the Coracias Gar- 

 rula or Roller, and the Merops Apiaster or Bee- 

 Eater, neither of which are natives of Britain, 

 though sometimes seen as occasional stragglers. 

 The Kingfisher is a bird of a retired and solitary 

 nature, and is only to be found near rivers, brooks, 

 or stagnant waters, living entirely on the smaller 

 kind of fish : its general length is about seven inches, 

 its breadth eleven inches, and its weight about 



