KINGFISHER. 
GENERIC CHARACTER. 
Bill long, thick, straight, and sharp-pointed. 
Tongue fleshy, very short, terminating in a sharp point. 
Outmost toe partially connected to the middle one. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 
Alcedo Ispida. . . A. brachyura supra cyanea, subtus fulva, 
loris rufis. Linn. Syst. Nat. Gmel. 1 . 
p. 448. 
Upper part of the body azure j orange- 
coloured beneath 5 the legs red, 
/3 Ispida senegalensis. Briss. Av. 4. p. 485. 
no. 7 - 1 . 39. f. 1 . 
European Kingfisher. Buff. Birds, v. 7. p. 158. pi. 170. Lath. 
Syn. 1. part 2. p. 626. no. Id. Alb. 
Av. 1 . t. 54. Will. Orn. p. 14(5. 
tab. 24. 
This is justly esteemed the handsomest bird in 
our climate ; and Buffon properly observes that none 
in Europe can compare with the kingfisher in ele- 
gance, richness, and luxuriance of colours : it has 
all the shades of the rainbow, the brilliancy of 
enamel, and the glossy softness of silk. All the mid- 
2 G 
VOL. I. 
