Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/859

KINGFISHER 839 swimmer and a good table fish, and is often called whiting. It is rare on the New Eng- King Fish (Umbrina nebulosa). land coast, but common in the waters of the middle states. KINGFISHER, an extensive family of birds, with a lengthened, generally straight bill, broad at the base with acute tip, rounded wings, short tail, strong and short tarsi. The family in- cludes, according to Gray, the subfamilies buc- coninoe or puff lairds of tropical America ; the galbulina or jacamars, also South American, already treated ; halcyoninm or kinghunters, belonging to the old world ; and the alcedinince or kingfishers, distributed the world over. The subfamily of kingfishers contains the genera alcedo (Linn.), alcyone (Swains.), and ceryle (Boie), with a long, straight, and slender bill, with the culmen sloping to the acute tip. In alcedo the wings are short, with the first quill nearly as long as the second and third, which are equal and longest; tail short, broad, and rounded ; tarsi very short and robust ; toes unequal, the middle one longest, and the inner one short; the claws short and curved. The species of this genus are found in most parts of the old world, where they frequent fresh- water rivers and lakes, perching solitary on an overhanging branch, or skimming near the surface in pursuit of their fish prey; they European Kingfisher (Alcedo isplda). sometimes plunge from a branch, and at others flutter over a spot, suddenly pouncing on a fish as it rises to the surface ; they catch the fish with the bill, and swallow it whole, head fore- most, unless it be too large, in which case they beat it to pieces and swallow the separate fragments. The nest is made at the end of a long gallery which they excavate in the sandy or clayey banks of rivers by their bill and feet, and the eggs, six or seven in number, are placed on ejected pellets of fish bones. The common kingfisher of Europe (A. ispida, Linn.) is about 7 in. long, with a long sharp bill, stout body, and short wings ; it possesses many of the brilliant colors of tropical birds, the upper back being dark green, the lower back and rump bright blue ; the upper part of the head, wing coverts, and stripe on each side of neck, green with numerous light blue spots ; throat and neck stripe yellowish white, and lower parts pale chestnut. The eggs are pinkish white, and are placed in holes in river banks. The bird is the halcyon of the ancients, from whose period and habits of incubation arose the term " halcyon days." Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon). Some of the older writers even attributed to the kingfisher the power of arresting the vio- lence of the waves. In some parts of Europe it is still believed that the breast of a kingfisher suspended by the bill will always be turned to the north, that when accurately balanced the bill will point in the direction of the wind even within doors, and that its head and feathers protect against witches and storms at sea, and are a sure means of securing the affections of a loved object. The flight is direct and rapid, and its note sharp and piercing and emitted on the wing. The genus alcyone (Swains.) has no inner toe ; its few species are found in Aus- tralia and the Indian archipelago ; their habits are the same as in the preceding. The com- mon kingfisher of this country belongs to the genus ceryle (Boie); this comprises several species, many of which are found in Africa and India; the tail is long and rounded, the tarsi uncommonly short and stout, and the inner toe much longer than the hinder. The belted kingfisher (G. alcyon, Boie) is found