EXOTIC BIRDS FOR BRITAIN. 
99 
hatched must somehow perish during that stage 
when they are nothing but suitable morsels for the 
kingfisher, to be swallowed entire ; and a portion 
of all this wasted food might very well go to 
sustain a few species, which would be beautiful 
ornaments of the waterside, and a perpetual delight 
to all lovers of rural nature, including anglers. It 
may be remarked in passing, that the waste of 
food, in the present disorganized state of nature, is 
not only in our streams. 
The introduction of one or more of these lovely 
foreign kingfishers would not certainly have the 
eflfect of hastening the decline of our native species ; 
but indirectly it might bring about a contrary 
result — a subject to be touched on at the end of 
this paper. Practical naturalists may say that 
kingfishers would be far more difficult to procure 
than other birds, and that it would be almost im- 
possible to convey them to England. That is a 
question it would be premature to discuss now ; 
but if the attempt should ever be made, the diffi- 
culties would not perhaps be found insuperable. 
In all countries one hears of certain species of birds 
that they invariably die in captivity; but when 
the matter is closely looked into, one usually finds 
that improper treatment and not loss of liberty is 
the cause of death. Unquestionably it would be 
much more difficult to keep a kingfisher alive and 
