1. The halcyon is not much larger than a sparrow; its colour is blue
and green, and somewhat purple; its whole body is composed of these
colours as well as the wings and neck, nor is any part without every
one of these colours. Its bill is somewhat yellow, long, and slight;
this is its external form. Its nest resembles the marine balls which
are called halosachnæ,[227] except in colour, for they are red; in
form it resembles those sicyæ (cucumbers) which have long necks; its
size is that of a very large sponge, for some are greater, others
less. They are covered up, and have a thick solid part as well as the
cavity; it is not easily cut with a sharp knife, but when struck or
broken with the hand, it divides readily like the halosachnæ. The mouth
is narrow, as it were a small entrance, so that the sea-water cannot
enter, even if the sea is rough; its cavity is like that of the sponge;
the material of which the nest is composed is disputed, but it appears
to be principally composed of the spines of the belone, for the bird
itself lives on fish. It also ascends rivers; it does not produce more
than five eggs; it continues to reproduce throughout the whole of its
life, from the time of being four months old.
[227] Probably a Zoophyte, Alcyonia.