PLATE LXX. 
The King FiJJier. 
In their plumage are the moft beautiful of the feathered tribe, difplaying variety of fhades as they 
move. We have but few of them, and thofe we have frequent our fmall rivers, and are only to be 
feen in pairs. They feed on fifti, in which their whole time is almoft employed ; and though they 
eat them whole, they do not digeft the bones, but difgorge, as the Owl does, in the place where they 
make choice of to depofit their eggs, for they make no neft, but frequently take to fome deferted Rat's 
hole; which is fometimes overflowed with water, and deftroys the brood. By the quantity of bones 
that have been found, it has been fuppofed by many that they build their nefts with them ; but this is 
erroneous. I have known fix or fometimes feven young ones taken, but not more. I have had two 
of thefe birds, which differ not in colour, but in their legs — one has been a full orange, the other 
black, as defcribed in the Plate. The middle claw, and the .outer one, are divided no farther than 
to the firft joint. Their -legs are fmall, and very Ihort. They are birds of no fong ; but remark- 
able filent and quiet. They alTociate with no other birds ; but will fit on the branch of a willow-tree, 
over the water, when they are not in fearch of food. Their colours, though the moft brilliant, will 
hold their luftre longer than that of any other kind of bird. 
No. XXIV. 
