GENUS XXIV. ALCEDO. KINGSFISHER. 
SPECIES. A. ALCYON. 
BELTED KINGSFISHER. 
[Plate XXIII. — Fig. 1. — Female.] 
BaktraMj^. 289.— Turton, p. 278. — Peale’s Museum, JST o. 2145.* 
This is a general inhabitant of the banks and shores of all 
our fresh-water rivers from Hudson’s bay to Mexico; and is the 
only species of its tribe found within the United States. This 
last circumstance, and its characteristic appearance, make it as 
universally known here, as its elegant little brother, the common 
Kingsfisher of Europe, is in Britain. Like the love-lorn swains 
of whom poets tell us, he delights in murmuring streams and 
falling waters; not however merely that they may sooth his ear, 
but for a gratification somewhat more substantial. Amidst the 
roar of the cataract, or over the foam of a torrent, he sits perched 
upon an overhanging bough, glancing his piercing eye in every 
direction below for his scaly prey, which with a sudden circular 
plunge he sweeps from their native element, and swallows in 
an instant. His voice, which is not unlike the twirling of a 
watchman’s rattle, is naturally loud, harsh, and sudden; but is 
softened by the sound of the brawling streams and cascades 
among which he generally rambles. He courses along the wind- 
ings of the brook or river, at a small height above the surface, 
sometimes suspending himself by the rapid action of his wings, 
like certain species of Hawks, ready to pounce on the fry below; 
now and then settling on an old dead overhanging limb to re- 
connoitre. Mill-dams are particularly visited by this feathered 
* We add the following' synonymes: — Jllcedo alcyon, Lii^rN. Syst. ed. 10, vol. 
I, 115. — Gmei. Sysl. I, 451. — Lath. hid. Orn. 257. — Cateshy, i, 69. — Buff. 
PI. Enl. 593-715, 
