136 
THE COMMON KINGFISHER. 
accustomed to wander by tlie sides of rivers, whether for the purpose of angling, or merely to 
study the beauties of nature. So swift is the flight of this bird, and with such wonderful 
rapidity does it move its short 
wings, that its shape is hardly 
perceptible as it passes through 
the air, and it leaves upon the 
eye of the observer the impres- 
sion of a blue streak of light. 
This straight, arrow-like course 
is that which is generally 
adopted by the bird, but on 
some occasions the Kingfishers 
will become very playful, and 
sport with each other in the 
air, turning and wheeling with 
much adroitness as they mutu- 
ally chase or avoid each other 
in their game. 
The food of this bird con- 
sists chiefly, though not exclu- 
sively, of fish, which it takes, 
kills, and eats in the following 
manner : — 
Seated upon a convenient 
bough or rail which overhangs 
a stream where the smaller 
fish love to pass, the King- 
fisher waits very patiently un- 
til he sees an unsuspecting 
minnow or stickleback pass be- 
low his perch, and then, with 
a rapid movement, drops into 
the water like a stone and se- 
cures his prey. Should it be a 
small fish, he swallows it at 
once ; but if it should be of rather large dimensions, he carries it to a stone or stump, beats 
it two or three times against the hard substance, and then swallows it without any trouble. 
The Kingfisher, if unmolested, soon learns to be familiar with man, and has no hesitation 
in carrying on the daily affairs of its life without heeding the near presence of a human 
observer. I have known a Kingfisher to sit upon a projecting stone that overhung a stream 
running at the foot of a garden, and to permit the owners of the garden to watch its proceed- 
ings without exhibiting any alarm. If managed properly, this interesting bird will so far 
extend its confidence to man as to become partially domesticated, speedily rivalling the robin 
or the sparrow in the bold familiarity of its manners. One such bird, that was tamed by a 
friend, owed its domestication to the loss of its parents. 
Three young Kingfishers were seen sitting in a row upon a branch of a tree close to a 
stream, and drew the attention of their future guardian by their constant wailing after food. 
Various kinds of food were accordingly procured for the poor desolate birds ; but as the right 
sort of diet was not obtained for some days, two of the young birds died. The third, however, 
survived, and lived for a considerable time, coming regularly for his food, and receiving it at 
the hands of his protector, but never venturing into the house. With process of time he met 
with a mate and founded a family after the usual Kingfisher fashion. But he soon discovered 
that it was easier to snpply his family with food by resorting to his kind friends and asking 
them for fish, than by spending time and trouble in capturing fish for himself. 
KINGFISHER .— Alcedo ispida. 
