. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . within the United States. This last circumstance, and its characte-ristic appearance, make it universally known here. Like the love-lornswains, of whom poets tell us, he delights in murmuring streams and fallingwaters; not however merely that they may sooth his ear, but for a gratifica- 1 Alcedo alcyon, Lin. 49 566 AVES—BELTED KINGFISHER. tion somewhat more substantial. Amidst the roar of a cdtaxitctjOr over thefoam of a torrent, he sits perched upon an overhang
. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . within the United States. This last circumstance, and its characte-ristic appearance, make it universally known here. Like the love-lornswains, of whom poets tell us, he delights in murmuring streams and fallingwaters; not however merely that they may sooth his ear, but for a gratifica- 1 Alcedo alcyon, Lin. 49 566 AVES—BELTED KINGFISHER. tion somewhat more substantial. Amidst the roar of a cdtaxitctjOr over thefoam of a torrent, he sits perched upon an overhanging bough, glancing hispiercing eye in every direction below for his scaly prey, wnich, with asudden circular plunge, he sweeps from their native element and swallowsin an instant. His voice, which is not unlike the twirling of a watchmansrattle, is naturally loud, harsh, and sudden, but is softened by the sound ofthe brawling streams, and cascades, among which he generally courses along the windings of the brook, or river, at a small height abovethe surface. Sometimes suspending himself by the rapid actioj. oc his. wings, ready to pounce on the prey below; now and then settling on an olddead overhanging limb to reconnoitre. Mill-dams are particularly visitedby this feathered fisher; and the sound of his pipe is as well known to themiller, as the rattling of his own hopper. Rapid streams, with high perpendicular banks, particularly if they be of ahard clayey or sandy nature, are also favorite places of resort for this bird;not only because in such places the fish are more exposed to view, butbecause those steep and high banks are the chosen situations for his these he digs with his bill horizontally, sometimes four or five nest is built of few materials. They are very tenacious of their haunts,breeding for several successive years in the same hole, and do not readilyforsake it, even though it be visited. Many fabulous stories have beenrelated by
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookidnaturalistsl, bookyear1851
