KIN 
the KIng-Fifher, with which we are now ac- 
quainted, pofTeiTes none of thofe powers of allaying 
the ftorm, or of building on the waves: it is con- 
tented to build it's neft on the banks of rivers, and 
in fuch fituations as are mofl unlikely to be afl^efted 
by the rife of the ftream. When it has fixed on a 
proper fpot, it digs with it's bill a hole about a 
yard deep : and fometimes it occupies the deferted 
hole of a rat, or one caufed by the decay of the root 
of an old tree; enlarges it towards the bottom; 
lines it with the down of the v/illow; and, without 
any additional preparation, depofits it's eggs. 
In reality, the neft of the King-Fifher, in mo- 
dern times, (and birds in a ft'ate of nature never 
change their inftinfts) is very different from that 
defcribed by the ancients, as ihaped like a long- 
necked gourd, and compofed of the bones of the 
fea-needle. Plenty of bones and fcales, indeed, 
are always found in it; but thefe are only the re- 
mains of the bird's food, and not brought there 
either for the purpofes of warmth or convenience. 
The King-Filiier, as Bellonius obferves, feeds on 
fifh, but cannot digeft their bones or fcales ; and 
therefore throws them up again, as eagles and owls 
are obferved to do apart of their prey. 
In one of thefe deep and gloomy holes there are 
frequently found from, five to nine eggs; and if the 
neft be robbed, the bird returns, and lays in the 
fame fituation. ' I have had,' fays Reaumur, * one 
of thefe females brought me, taken from her neft 
about three leagues from my houfe. After admir- 
ing the beauty of her colours, I permitted her to 
jfly; v/hen the fond creature was inftantly feen to 
repair to the neft where fhe had juft before been 
made a captive: there joining the male, fhe again 
began to lay, though it was for the third time, and 
the fcafon was very far advanced. At each time 
Ihe had ffven eggs. The older the neft is, the 
greater quantity of fifli-boncs and fcales does it 
contain : thefe are difpofed without any Ox-der, and 
fometimes occupy a coniiderable fhare of room,' 
In our climate the King-Fifher begins to lay 
early in the fcafon, and excludes her firft brood 
about the beginning of April. The fidelity of 
the male exceeds that of the turtle : he brings the 
female large fupplies of fifii during the feafon of 
incubation ; and fne, contrary to moft other birds, 
is always plump and fat at that time. The male, 
who on other occafions always makes a twittering 
noife, now enters tlie neft with ail the filence and 
circumfpeflion imaginable. The young are 
hatched at the expiration of tv/enty days; but they 
do not acquire the beauty of their plumage till af- 
ter the nrft molting feafon. 
The flefti of the King-Fiilier is utterly unfit for 
food; but it's beautiful plumage preferves it's luf- 
tre lonr;er than that of any other bird with which 
we are acquainted. 
KiNG-FisHER, American. This bird, as to 
it's general iliape, refembles the European King- 
Fiflier, as well in it's bill as feet; but it's tail 
is much longer in proportion. The bill is ftrong 
and blackifti, except towards the bafe, where it 
is of a reddifh flefti-colour. The head is of a 
lead-colour, inclining to blue; and on it's top there 
is a kind of creft of long loofe feathers. On each 
fide of the head there are two white fpots; and the 
throat and under-fide of the neck are v/hite. The 
breaft is lead-coloured. Six or feven of the prime 
quills are blackifli, with llnall white fpots on the 
outer webs, which form colleftively tranfverfe lines 
of white: the reft of the quills have white tips; and 
the inner covert- feathers of the wings are white, 
K I N 
with a fmall admixture of orange. The tail is of 
a pale lead- colour, tipt and tranfverfely marked 
with narrow bars of white. The belly, the thiorhs, 
and the covert- feathers under the tail, are white; 
the legs and feet are of a reddifh brown hue; and 
the claws are dufls:y. 
KiNG-FisHER, Little Green and Orange- 
Coloured. The length of this bird is about five 
inches and a half from the tip of the bill to the end 
of the tail. The bill is dufky, except that the 
lower chap is reddifh towards the bafe. The 
throat is orange-coloured; and a mark of the famie 
colour runs on each fide from the bafe of the bill 
over the eyes. The head, the hinder part of the 
neck, the back, the tail, and the covert-feathers of 
the wings, are a fine green ; a bar of the fame colour 
croiTes the breaft; but the fides of the belly are of 
a bright reddifh orange-colour. The lower part 
of the belly, the thighs, and the covert-feathers un- 
der the tail, are white; the tail is compofed of 
twelve plumes, the two middle ones being fome- 
what longer than the reft; and the inner webs are 
all fpotted with white. The inner coverts and the 
ridges of the wings are a light orange; and the 
quills are dufky, fpotted with a light clay-colour 
on the outer and inner webs, excepting a few of 
the outer quills. The legs and feet are fmall ; and 
the toes, which are flefh-coloured, are conne£ted 
like thofe of the other King-Fiflier fpecies. 
King-Fisher of Catesby. This bird is about 
the fize of the thrufli, and the largeft of all thofe 
which have fhort tails. The head is big in pro- 
portion; and thick of feathers, which form an 
irregular blue tuft. A white line appears under 
the eyes, and a fpot of the fame colour on the fore- 
head. The breaft is white, variegated with ftreaks 
of red and blue; the quill-feathers of the wings 
are black, tipt with white; the lower part of the 
belly is white; the tail is blue; and there are three 
toes before, and one behind. 
King-Fisher, Great, of Gambia. This fpe- 
cies is as large as the greater thrufh. The bill is 
long and ftraight, ending in a fharp point, and of a 
bright fcarlet colour; the upper mandible is chan- 
nelled on each fide ; and the angles or corners of 
the mouth, which are deep cut, fall diredly under 
the eyes. The head, the neck, the whole under- 
fide, and part of the back, are covered with dirty 
orange-coloured feathers ; the chin and breaft are 
lighter than the back; the wings are purple in the 
upper part; the greater quills are blue, except fome 
of the foremoft, which are black; and the rido^es of 
the wings are white. The lower part of the rump 
and back is a beautiful varying blue green, the 
wing-feathers bordering on the back partaking of 
the fame colour ; the tail is a fine blue with a green- 
ifii tinge; the legs and feet are red; and the claws 
are black. 
King-Ftsher, Black and White. The bill 
of this bird is of a black colour, long, pretty thick 
at the bafe, and ends in a flaarp point. The crown 
of the head and the hinder part of the neck are 
black; a broad line paiTes from the angles of the 
mouth under the eyes, which blends with a fimilar 
colour behind the neck; and from the noftrils are 
drawn white lines above the eyes, and continued 
the whole length of the head. The whole under-^ 
fide, from the bill to the tail, is of a dirty yellowifii 
white colour, except a narrow bar of black fpots 
that crofTes the middle of the breaft. The whole 
back is black, tipt with grey; the ridge of the wing 
is v/hite; the covert-feathers are partly black and 
partly white; the baftard-wing is black i the tail- 
5 K feathers 
