BELTED KINGSFISHER. 
349 
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 
and return again to the same branch or rock ; they also chase their prey in 
the manner of the Flycatchers. Notwithstanding these are their common 
food, fish, water insects, in a few instances crabs, are resorted to, and in all 
cases the vicinity of water seems requisite for their healthy support. There 
is an individual ( Alcedo dea ) which has been separated from this under the 
name of Tanysiptera ; the only distinction now, (for it has four toes,) is the 
elongation of two tail-feathers, which exceed the length of the body consi- 
derably ; it was originally discovered in the Isle of Ternate, and, according 
to Lesson, is abundant in New Guinea, where it is killed by the natives for 
ornaments, and those coming to this country being impaled on reeds, are 
consequently much mutilated. Another division will comprise the very large 
New Holland species, under the title of Dacelo ; * this contains yet only two 
species, commonly known by the name of “ Laughing Jack-asses j” by the 
natives they are called Cuck’unda ; they are nearly as large as a common 
Pigeon, and have all the members very powerful ; the bill is much dilated, 
and bent at the tip ; according to Lesson, their chief food is large insects, 
which they seize on the ground ; that ornithologist extends the genus to several 
of the larger billed small species ; we would now restrict it as bearing better 
marks to those of New Holland only, D. gigantea and Leachii. Another 
division has been formed among these curious birds, also by M. Lesson, of 
the Alcedo rufipes of Cuvier, under the name of Syma, and, as a specific appel- 
lation, that of Torotora, by which it is known to the Papous, in its native 
country, New Guinea. It frequents rivers and the sea shores, and feeds on 
fish ; the principal distinction for which it has been separated is a serrature of 
the mandibles of the bill. M. Lesson, however, did not perceive any thing 
different from its congeners to which this structure could be applied. From 
the above remarks it will be seen that the old genus Alcedo has been 
separated into no less than nine divisions. Four of these will, perhaps, 
only be necessary, and are as follows, — 1. Alcedo ; having the form of 
Alcedo ispida ; feeding principally on fish; the geographical distribution, the 
known world, except very northern latitudes ; the number of species and indi- 
viduals increasing from the extremes. 2. Halcyon ; the form of Sanctus, cina- 
momeus, omnicolor , &c. ; containing Lesson’s Todyrampus ; also, perhaps, his 
* M. Lesson proposes a genus ( Todyrampus ,) for all the smaller New Holland species, 
taking A. sacra as the type, on account, principally, of the more dilated bill. The same 
gentleman proposes the titles Melidora and Choucalcyon, to designate forms among the 
Kingsfishers which I have not ascertained. 
