82 
THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
is now only held in estimation for the beauty of his 
plumage, for which he is so much extolled by those 
persons who are captivated by a gaudy exterior, with- 
out examining whether there be any intrinsic worth 
to merit their esteem. 
The kingfisher is found throughout Europe. There 
are a vast number of species and varieties, but one 
only is known as an inhabitant of Britain ; they 
frequent ponds, streams, and rivers, — are solitary 
birds, seldom leaving the neighbourhood of their 
natal place; their food is small fish, leeches, and all 
aquatic worms, and insects, of which they devour 
prodigious numbers, and they will sit for hours to- 
gether on the branch of a tree, projecting over the 
water, where they remain motionless, watching with 
the most intense anxiety to catch their prey, and, the 
instant a fish or insect becomes visible, dart down 
perpendicularly into the water, returning with their 
victim, which they carry to land, beat to death against 
the ground, and then swallow, but afterwards throw 
up the bones, scales, and indigestible parts. Should 
it so happen that they cannot find a tree, or bough, 
overhanging their destined haunt, they will conceal 
themselves among reeds or willows, or will sit on a 
