NIGIITJAES A5sD KINGFISHERS. 
13 
tongues ; of those quiet stilly states of the atmosphere 
when all nature seems to he lulled into a peaceful 
slumber, and one almost feels a disinclination to dis- 
turb the tranquillity which prevails around by drawing 
breath. It reminds us of those pleasant streams and 
brooks, those shadowed banks and waters where the 
speckled trout delights to revel ; and of the transient 
pleasure that its vivid brilliancy of colour communi- 
cated to us when we first observed the Kingfisher 
darting like a meteor o’er the placid stream. 
The Kingfisher, observes Selby, in point of locality 
is rather generally, though sparingly, diffused. It 
inhabits tlie banks of clear rivers and brooks, pre- 
ferring those that flow with an easy current, and 
whose beds are margined with willows, alders, or close 
bushes. It is usually seen perched upon a small 
bough overhanging the stream, from whence it darts 
upon the small fish and aquatic insects that form its 
food. 
Sometimes it wiU hover suspended (in the manner 
of the Kestrel and other hawks) over the water, and 
precipitate itself upon its prey, when risen to the sur- 
face. Upon making a capture it conveys the object 
to land, and, after beating it to death upon a stone or 
on the ground, swallows it whole. The bones and 
other indigestible parts are afterwards ejected in small 
pellets by the mouth. Its flight is very rapid, and 
sustained by a quickly -repeated motion of the wings, 
and is always in a straight and horizontal direction 
near the surface of the water.'*' 
As it is requisite that the water should be clear and 
* Rritish Ornithology. 
