HAlCYOIflD^. GENERAL HABITS. 153 
but this question is at once decided by a knowledge of 
their economy, which, from personal observation, we 
have every reason to believe is much like that of the 
bee-eaters. The intervention of the rollers at once lessens 
the abrupt transition, which would otherwise be apparent, 
from the perfect-footed swallows to the zygodactyle bee- 
eaters ; and we arc thus prepared for all those birds, whose 
toes, as it were, are soldered together like those of the 
Meropida;. Here, perhaps, we may notice that most 
beautiful and rare genus, Nj/ctiornin, or night-feeder *, as 
being, in all probability, that particular link by which 
nature connects this family with the trogons, — thereby 
uniting the three aberrant groups of the Fissirostres 
into one primary circle. M. 'I’emminck, overlooking its 
peculiar structure, placed this genus with llerops, to 
which, indeed, it has a close resemblance ; while its con- 
nection to Frionitex (111.) in other parts of its organis- 
ation is no less obvious. Its precise situation, in short, 
requires further investigation. 
(173.) The family of Halcyonidre, or kingfishers, is 
obviously connected to the last. It comprises several 
Well marked genera, agreeing among themselves in the 
great length of their bill, and in the extreme shortness 
of their feet. These characters, it is true, belong also to 
the true bee-eater ; but here a remarkable dift'erence in 
economy is first developed. ATe have seen that the 
goatsuckers, swallows, and bee-eaters traverse the air 
to search after and pursue their prey ; their wings are, 
consequently, adapted for long and continued flight : but 
the family now before us liave a different economy, and 
therefore adificrent organisation, 'fhe whole of the ge- 
nera are sedentary, watching for their food from a fixed 
station, which they only quit as soon as their prey ap- 
proaches sufficiently near to come within the sweep of 
their wdngs : if unsuccessful in their first attack, they do 
not pursue their game, but return again to their post, 
and patiently wait for another luckless straggler ; if their 
first attack is successful, they return with their victim 
* Zool. lllust ii. pi. 50, 
