SPOTTED KING-FISHER. 
The distinguishing chara6lers of the nu- 
merous species of the King-Fisher, or Alcedo 
of Linnaeus, which comprehend a genus of 
beautiful piscivorous birds, are— that the bill is 
straight, strong, and sharp-pointed; that the 
tongue is short, and pointed ; and that the 
three lowest joints of the exterior toe are con - 
ne6lcd to the middle one. 
Of these birds, in general, many fables 
have been related by the ancients, which will 
be found more particularly noticed under our 
description of the common King-Fisher, or 
Halcyon of the poets* 
The species which we are at present to de- 
scribe, and which, we believe, was first deli- 
neated by Edwards, was brought from Suri- 
nam, of which place it is said to be a native. 
We have no authentic account of any pe- 
culiar habits by which it is distinguished from 
the various other species of the King-Fisher r 
though, indeed, there is another species, which 
bears the express name of the Surinam King- 
Fisher; 
