_Ceryle Alcyon._
_Alcedo alcyon_, +Linn.+—Aud. pl. 77.
_Ceryle alcyon_, +Boie+.
[19] Length 13¹⁄₈ inches, expanse 21¹⁄₂, flexure 6¹⁄₄, tail 3¹⁄₂,
rictus 2⁹⁄₁₀, tarsus ⁵⁄₁₀, middle toe ⁸⁄₁₀.
On my arrival in Jamaica in December, I used frequently to see this
well-known bird sitting on the bushes that overhang the romantic river
of Bluefields, or shooting along on swift wing, over its rapid course.
As the spring came on, however, and merged into summer, I ceased to see
it, there or elsewhere, no doubt because it had migrated to the north;
the very individuals that I had seen in Jamaica being, perhaps, now
in Canada. About the beginning of September it again appeared, rather
numerously for a solitary bird, scarcely a morning passing without
our seeing one or more along the sea-side. Where the mangrove or the
sea-grape stretches its branches down to the water’s edge, stopping the
way along the yellow beach, the Kingfisher delights to resort, sitting
on a projecting twig; here he waits patiently for the approach of some
small fish, on which he drops perpendicularly, and having seized it in
his powerful beak, emerges from the wave, and returns to his former
station to swallow it. It is a very shy and recluse bird; I have found
scarcely any more difficult of approach: the posts of observation which
he chooses are mostly such as command a wide view; and it is very wary;
long before the gunner can creep within shot, the bird takes alarm, and
darts away to a distant tree. Often as it sits watching, and sometimes
at the moment of flying, it utters a loud rattling _churr_.
Though in general a solitary bird, it is not unusual to observe two
playing together, chasing each other from tree to tree. A pair which
I obtained soon after their autumnal appearance, were thus engaged.
I watched them a long while, endeavouring to get a shot at them, but
owing to their wariness, was long unsuccessful. They took a wide round,
including, as alighting places, three high cotton-trees, one or two
mangroves, and a sea-grape, returning to these in succession, though
not with perfect regularity. As they flew they called to each other,
with the usual harsh cry; now and then they paused to mark the shoals
of small fishes that were swimming beneath, and plunged down upon them;
and I noticed that at such times the bird went wholly under water. Once
both birds seized the same fish, nearly at the same moment, and rising
with it into the air, each tugged in contrary directions, until the
grasp of one gave way. At last my assistant, Sam, taking advantage of
a dense and matted withe near one of the alighting trees, concealed
himself in it, whence he shot them both. The first was only wounded,
and falling into the water swam out sea-ward, _striking out_ boldly,
the wings, however, partially opened. On being seized he proved very
fierce, erecting the long crest, and endeavouring to strike with his
pointed beak. He got hold of my thumb, and squeezed so powerfully, that
the cutting edge of the upper mandible sliced a piece of flesh clean
out. He was tenacious of life, for though I pressed the trachea until
motion ceased, he repeatedly revived.
The form of the body of this bird, in conjunction with the head and
beak, is wedge-shaped, the tip of the latter being the point. This
form is admirably suited for its sudden and impetuous plunges upon
its fishy prey; as the powerful texture, great size, sharp point, and
cutting edges of the beak, are for holding it. The feathers of the
throat and breast are of the closest texture, and lie on each other
like scales, preventing the access of any water to the body, while,
from their glossy, satiny surface, the water is thrown off instantly on
emersion, as from the plumage of a duck. The feet again, though small,
are muscular, the tarsus very short, the toes united into a broad,
flat palm, and the claws unusually strong, short, and sharp. When one
remembers that the Kingfisher digs his own cave out of the clayey or
gravelly cliffs to the depth of several feet, we shall see the use of
his strong and broad feet, as we may see it also in the Mole. Beautiful
proofs of our God’s consummate wisdom in forming his creatures!
+Fam.+—NECTARINIADÆ.—(_The Honey-suckers._)