104 THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
cesses of the earth ; neitlier is its head or its feathers 
believed, even by the most illiterate of our clowns 
or seamen, to be a charm for love, a protection 
against viritchcraft, or a security for fair weather. It 
is neither venerated, like those of the Society Isles, 
nor dreaded, like those of some other countries ; but 
is considered merely as a bird that feeds on fish ; — 
is generally fat ; relished by some as good eating ; 
and is now and then seen exposed for sale in our 
markets. 
" Though the kingfisher generally remains with us, 
in Pennsylvania, until the commencement of cold 
weather, it is seldom seen here in winter, but returns 
to us early in April. In North and South Carolina, 
I observed numbers of these birds in the months of 
February and March. I also frequently noticed 
them on the shores of the Ohio, in February, as high 
up as the mouth of the Mushingum. 
I suspect this bird to be a native of the Bahama 
Islands, as well as of our continent. In passing 
between these isles and the Florida shore, in the 
month of July, a kingfisher flew several times round 
our ship, and afterwards shot off to the south." 
Having nothing further to say in praise of this 
