172 ALCEDO ALCVON. 
at random, but snu<,dy secured from the winds and 
weather in the recesses of the earth ; neither is 
head or its feathers believed, even by the most ijb ^ 
rate of our clowns or seamen, to be a charm for W 
a protection ajjainst witchcraft, or a security for V,, 
weather. It is neither venerated, like those ot 
Society Isles, nor dreaded, like those of some 0} j, 
countries ; but is considered merely as a bird that tr® j 
on fish ; is g’cnerally fat ; relished by some as 
eatinw ; and is now and then seen exposed tor saw 
our markets. jii 
Thoujrh the kingstisher jfenerally remains with n*’ 
Pennsylvania, until the commencement of cold weat 
it is seldom seen here in winter; but returns to j 
early in April. In North and South Carolia"’ 
observed numbers of these birds in the month® gi 
February and March. I also frequently noticed to 
on the shores of the Ohio, in February, as high ‘'I' 
the mouth of the Muskingum. ^gjfi 
I suspect this bird to be a native of the 
Islands, as u'cll as of our continent. In passing bet'' jy, 
these isles and the Florida shore, in the month ot 
a kingsfisher flew several times round our ship; 
afterwards shot oflf to the south. 
The length of this s^iecies is twelve inches and a w 
extent twenty; back and whole upper parks. 
li?' 
bluish slate colour ; round the neck is a collar 
white, which reaches before to the chin ; head, ' jj|( 
crested ; the feathers, long and narrow, black 
centre, and generally erect ; the shafts of all the f®** .^iit 
except the white plumage, are black ; belly and ' g; 
white ; sides under the wings, variegated ndth gt 
round the upper part of the breast passes a ha^’^p;: 
blue, interspersed with some light brown feat jj,,.!' 
before the eye is a small spot of white, and 
immediately below it ; the bill is three inches luaif. (,.(!• 
the point to the slit of the mouth, strong, sharp-pe*'|||if. 
and black, except near the b.ase of the lower niaa“^iej 
and at the tip, where it is of a horn colour ; 
and interior webs of the secondaries, black, ®P 
