Genus XXIV. ALCEDO. KINGFISHER. 
Species. A. ALCYON. 
BELTED KINGFISHER. 
[Plate XXIII. Fig-. 1-Female.] 
Baktram, p. 2S9. — TuRTOx, p. 27S.* 
This is a general inhabitant of the banks and shores of all our fresh- 
■water rivers from Hudson's Bay to Mexico ; and is the only species of 
its tribe found within tlie United States. This last circumstance, and its 
characteristic appearance, make it as universally known here, as its 
elegant little brother, the common Kingfisher of Euroj^e, is in Britain. 
Like the love-lorn swains of Avhom poets tell us, he delights in murmur- 
ing streams and falling waters ; not however merely that they may soothe 
his ear, but for a gratification somewhat more substantial. Amidst the 
» i^ar of the cataract, or over the foam of a torrent, he sits perched upon 
an overhanging bough, glancing his piercing eye in every direction be- 
low for his scaly prey, which Avith a sudden circular plunge he sweeps 
from their native element, and swallows in an instant. His voice, which 
is not unlike the twirling of a watchman's rattle, is naturally loud, 
harsh, and sudden ; but is softened by the sound of the brawling streams 
and cascades among which he generally rambles. He courses along the 
windings of the brook or river, at a small height above the surface, 
sometimes suspending himself liy the rapid action of his wings, like cer- 
tain species of Hawks, ready to pounce on the fry below ; now" and then 
settling on an old dead overhanging limb to reconnoitre. Mill-dams are 
particularly visited by this feathered fisher ; and the sound of his pipe 
is as well known to the miller as the rattling of his own hopper. Rapid 
streams, with high perpendicular banks, particularly if they be of a hard 
clayey or sandy nature, are also favorite places of resort for this bii-d ; 
not only because in such places the small fish are more exposed to view ; 
but because those steep and dry banks are the chosen situations for his 
nest. Into these he digs with bill and claws, horizontally, sometimes to 
the extent of four or five feet, at the distance of a foot or two from the 
surface. The few materials he takes in are not always placed at the 
* Wc add the following synonymes :— yli'ccdo aJajoii, Linn. Syst. ed. 10, vol. i., 
115. — Gmel. Sij.'it. I., 451. — Latu. Intl. Oni. 257. — Catesby, i., GO. — Burr. PL 
Eiil. 593-715. 
(197) 
