The Common Kingfisher. BIRDS. The Pied Kingfisher. 297 
eight ; then he dashes instantly down upon it, and so 
1 
by its bill, will always turn its breast to the north ; and 
rapid are his movements, and so unerring his aim, that 
that if accurately balanced and suspended by a single 
he rarely fails in his attack. Sometimes he is seen 
thread from its back, its bill will point in the direction 
to hover over a particular point of the surface of 
of the wind, even when it is kept in-doors. Some of the 
the water, waiting for the favourable moment to make 
other notions entertained about the Kingfisher are 
his plunge ; but when the prey is caught, he always 
still more absurd ; its head and feathers have been 
makes his way back to his post of observation, and 
regarded as a protection against witchcraft, and as a 
then swallows his victim head-foremost, usually crush- 
certain means of securing the affections of a coy 
ing it first, to prevent struggles during this operation. 
mistress. 
Although so strictly aquatic in its habits, the King- 
THE IHDIAH KINGFISHER (Alcedo hevgalensis), a 
fisher remains in this country throughout the year, but 
common species in most parts of India, is very nearly 
in severe weather it has been known to quit the 
allied to our European kingfisher, which it also re- 
inland fresh waters, and to resort to the sea-shore. 
sembles in its habits. It frequents the brooks and 
The Kingfisher is a solitary and pugnacious bird, 
rivers, excavating its burrows for the purpose of nidifi- 
living in pairs during the breeding season, but rarely 
cation in the steep banks and in mud walls. Its food 
allowing any neighbours of its own species. It dwells 
consists of small fishes and aquatic insects, and it is 
in holes in the banks of the streams which it frequents, 
often seen perched on a stick in the paddy fields 
and these are said to be usually the deserted burrows 
watching for its prey in the shallow water. 
of the water rat, or of other Mammals. Whether the 
THE BIEU KINGFISHER [Alcedo Biru) is common 
Kingfisher ever digs its own burrow is stOl uncertain ; 
in Java, where it follows the same mode of life as its 
but it would appear not improbable that it may do so 
European relative. Dr. Horsfield describes it as dart- 
occasionally ; and on taking possession of the deserted 
ing in short rapid flights along the surface of the water. 
domicile of some other animal, it seems always to 
emitting from time to time a note so shrill and piercing 
make some alterations to suit its abode to its own 
as to be very disagreeable to the hearer. It is also 
purposes. The floor of this retreat is always covered 
often seen perched on trees . on the hanks of rivulets. 
with the disgorged bones of the small fishes devoured 
and its food, like that of the two preceding species. 
by the birds, and it is upon these that the eggs are 
consists of small fishes and insects. 
laid. The eggs are of a pinkish tint, and vary between 
THE AZURE KINGFISHER [Alcyone azurea), a very 
five and seven in number. When the young are 
abundant species in Australia, e.specially in its southern 
hatched, the parents feed them by disgorging the fishes 
and south-eastern parts, belongs to a genus which is 
and other animals which they have captured ; and they 
principally distinguished from that including our Euro- 
continue to supply the wants of their offspring in the 
pean species, by the existence of only three toes in 
same manner for some time after they are able to 
each foot, the outer toe being entirely deficient. It 
leave the nest. The note of the Kingfisher is shrill 
is rather a larger bird than our common kingfisher; 
and piping ; it is frequently emitted when the bird is 
the whole upper part is of a fine ultramarine blue 
on the wing. 
colour, the wings are black, the lower surface is ferru- 
We have still to notice some curious superstitions 
ginous orange, becoming nearly white on the throat; 
which prevailed in ancient times, and some which 
a line of the same colour runs from the base of the bill 
have even come down to our oivn day, in connection 
to the eye, and there is a tuft of yellowish-white 
with this bird. The Greeks and Eomans, naturalists 
feathers on each side of the neck. 
as well as poets, believed that the Kingfisher built a 
It is found along the margins of brooks and ponds. 
floating nest, and that the elements were so kind to 
where it perches on the bare branch of a tree over- 
lier, that during the period of incubation, no storms 
' hanging the water, dashing down from its resting-place 
arose to disturb her in her work, or render her situa- 
upon the small fishes which pass underneath it. Dur- 
tion perilous. Hence, it was supposed that the waters 
ing the breeding season, which commences in August, 
always remained smooth during the period in which 
the male is very pugnacious, and at all times this King- 
the Kingfisher was engaged in hatching her eggs, and 
fisher is a solitary bird. The burrow of the bird, like 
that the mariner might safely venture on the uncertain 
that one of our British species, is made in the bank of 
element which was the scene of his calling, without 
the stream, and its floor is occupied by the bones of 
any fear of meeting with untoward accidents in his 
fishes disgorged by the inhabitants. 
course. Indeed, so far did some of the old poets carry 
THE PIED KINGFISHER [Ceryle rudis) belongs to 
their credulity, that they actually believed the bird to 
a genus also closely allied to Alcedo, and agi'eeing with 
have some secret power of stilling the waves. From 
it in the number and arrangement of the toes, but dis- 
these circumstances the term “ Halcyon days,” applied 
tinguishable at once by the great stoutness of its short 
to the supposed period of incubation of this bird, came 
tarsi. The Pied Kingfisher is found abundantly in 
to be regarded as synonymous with calm, and it is 
India, and thence westward to Africa, extending its 
still frequently used metaphorically, to express a dur- 
range, according to some statements, even as far as the 
ation of quiet happiness. Th.ese ancient notions are 
Cape of Good Hope. Specimens also occasionally 
frequently referred to also by our older English poets. 
cross from North Africa, where the bird is very com- 
Some of the more modern superstitions with regard to 
mon, into some of the southern countries of Europe, 
this bird, seem to have a certain connection with its 
such as Spain and Sicily. 
supposed influence over the weather. Thus it is 
The Pied Kingfisher is about the size of the song- 
believed in some places, that a Kingfisher, suspended 
thrush, measuring rather more than eight inches iu 
VOL. I. 38 
