THE KINGFISHER. 
69 
The Chinese , the Cayenne , anti the Abyssinian Rollers, 
meal distinguished by the brilliancy of their plumage, but 
HUxer little in any material respect from the preceding. 
If we ascend in the scale of beauty, the next bird that de- 
mands our attention is the Hoopoe Of this there is only 
® n e species known to the Europeans, which is however dif- 
hised over the whole of the Old Continent. It weighs about 
twelve ounces, and is twelve inches in length, the "extent of 
’ ts wnigs being nineteen inches across. The bill is long and 
mack. The neck is pale reddish brown ; the breast and 
nelly white; the lesser coverts of the wing light brown; 
the back, scapulars and wings crossed with black and white, 
the rump white, and the tail white, marked with black in 
* e form ol a crescent. But the distinguishing character is 
a eau tirul crest ol about two inches high, which is of a 
Pale orange tipped with black. The food of this bird is 
msects. It is in some places accounted good eating. 
In Madagascar there is found another species of Hoopoe. 
7 he Promerops also, which is found in South America and 
>e southern parts of Africa and India, is generally considered 
ns a species ol Hoopoe. The body is the size of a pigeon, 
i°ugh the whole bird, including the tail, measures nearly 
° u >' feet. The head and neck, and upper part of the belly, 
are °f a shining green ; the rest of the plumage black with 
a gloss of violet. The scapular feathers, which are erect, 
ar e . black, with the ends and under parts shining green. 
Resides these, on each side of the tail are six falci-form 
eatherg which hang over each thigh. This bird is a native 
of New Guinea. 
. I he King-fisher is a bird better known in England 
'an the preceding, and is perhaps the most elegant bird 
' !!, * s produced in these northern climates. 
I he king-fisher is not much larger than a swallow; its 
^ mpe is compact ; i he legs however are disproportionably 
p, lna 1 1, an< I die bill disproportionably long ; it is two inches 
1 “|n the base to the tip ; the upper chap black, and the lower 
l° w ; but the colours of this bird atone for whatever is in- 
fant in its form; the crown of the head and the coverts 
k the wings are of a deep blackish green, spotted with 
"gilt azure ; the back and tail are of the most resplendent 
1 o U * e J ^ le w ^°^ e un( Ier the side of the body is orange co- 
t | 111 c " > a broad mark of the same passes from the bill beyond 
le ,oy es . beyond that is a large white spot : the tail is short, 
' ,U c °nsists cf twelve feathers of a rich deep blue; the feet 
