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that it has the power either to calm th$ 
storm, or still the winds. Dryden's 
Translation of Ovid contains the following: : 
« Alcyone, compress'd, 
Seven days sits brooding on her watery nest, 
, A wintry queen, her sire at length is kind, 
Calms every storm, and hushes every wind." 
In after times, the word Alcyon has 
been made to express any season of pros- 
perity. The bird not only calmed the 
sea, but preserved, where it was kept, the 
peace of families; it was a sure protection 
against thunder, and augmented hidden 
treasures. These fables have flattered 
and pleased the credulous, but unfor- 
tunately they are only the offspring of a 
heated imagination. 
The Ostiacs and Tartars of the present 
day employ the feathers of the Kingfisher 
for many superstitious uses. After pluck- 
ing the bird, they cast the feathers into 
water, and carefully preserve those which 
float, pretending that if with one of those 
feathers they touch a woman, or even her 
clothes, she falls in love with them im- 
mediately, They also take the skin, the 
