Halcyon was an old or poetical name of the kingfisher. It was fabled to lay its eggs in nests that floated on the sea, about the winter solstice, and to have the power of charming the winds and waves during the period of incubation, so that the weather was then calm; whence the term, halcyon days. Research Halcyon
Kingfisher, is the name of a family of Insessorial birds distinguished by the elongated, stoutly formed, tetragonal bill, broad at the base, and terminating in a finely acute point; tarsi short, feet strong, toes somewhat elongated.
The common kingfisher, found in Great Britain (Alcedo ispida), has the upper part of the head, the sides of the neck, and the coverts of the wings green, spotted with blue. The back is dark green in colour, the lower back and rump being of a bright blue. The throat is white, and the under surface of the body a pale-brown colour. It frequents the banks of rivers, and, perched on the bough of a tree, watches for fish, When the prey is perceived it dives into the water, secures the fish with its feet, and carries it to land, where it kills the prey and swallows it entire. It is about 18 cm in length. This bird has been greatly celebrated in ancient poetic and legendary lore, and is the subject of many superstitions.
The American kingfisher (Alcedo or Ceryle alcyon) is of a bluish-slate colour, with an iron-coloured band on the breast, whilst the head bears a crest of feathers.
The spotted kingfisher (Ceryle guttata) is a native of the Himalayas, where it is called the fish-tiger. A large Australian species is known as the laughing jackass . Research Kingfisher
The Kookaburra is a bird of the Alecdinidae (Kingfisher) family found in woodlands in east and south west Australia where they eat insects, small lizards, small snakes and small birds of other species. Kookaburras live in pairs or small groups and nest in hollow tree trunks , holes in trees or excavated ant hills. Kookaburras are mostly whitre in colour, with dark brown upper parts and an orangey-brown striped tail. They have a long, sharp, strong bill and a distinctive loud call like a laugh. Research Kookaburra More pictures of Kookaburra
The laughing jackass, settler's clock or GiantKingfisher (Dacelo gigas) is a large Australian kingfisher so called from its peculiar gurgling cry. It is an inhabitant of Australia, being found chiefly in the south-eastern portion of that country. It makes no nest, but deposits its eggs in the decayed hollow of a gum-tree. It is about 18 inches long, has a dark-brown crest, its back and upper surface is olive-brown, the wings are brown-black, and the breast and under portions are white, crossed by faint bars of pale brown. The tail is longish, with a rounded extremity, tipped with white; its colour is a rich chestnut, with deep black bars. Research Laughing Jackass
The Chance Vought Kingfisher was an American two-seater observation-scout seaplane and land aircraft of the Second World War in service with the US Navy as the OS2U and OS2N and with the British Fleet Air Arm from 1940 to 1944. The Chance Vought Kingfisher was a mid-wing cantilever monoplane powered by a Pratt and Whitney Wasp-Junior R-985-AN-2 radial air-cooled engine providing a top speed of 275 kmh and a range of 1460 km. The Chance Vought Kingfisher was armed with a fixed .30 inch calibremachine-gun firing through the airscrew and one flexible machine-gun in the rear cockpit. In addition two 100 lb or eight 30 lb bombs could also be carried on bomb-racks in the outer panels. Research Chance Vought Kingfisher
The USS Iowa is an American Iowa Class battleship of 59000 tons launched in 1942. She has a top speed of 33 knots. Although designed to carry a crew of 1760, during the Second World War she was manned by a complement of 2788. During the Second World War she was armed with nine x 16 inch/50 calibre (Mk 7) main guns in three triple turrets, two forward an one aft; twenty 5 inch / 38 calibre (Mk 12) secondary guns in ten twin turrets, five on the port side and five to starboard; sixty 40mm/ 56 calibreBofors anti-aircraft guns in fifteen quad gun mounts; fifty 20mm/70 calibre Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns in single mounts. During the Second World War she also carried three Vought OS2U Kingfisher floatplanes. After the war she was modified, and during the 1980s underwent a major modernisation program altering the armaments to; nine 16 inch/50 calibre (Mk 7) main guns in three triple turrets, two forward and one aft; twelve 5 inch/38 calibre (Mk 12) secondary guns in six twin turrets, three each to port and starboard; four 20mm/76 calibre Mk 15 VulcanPhalanx 6-barrelled Gatling close in support weapon systems; thirty two surface to surface RGM-74 Tomahawk anti-ship missiles in eight quad Mk 141 ABL launchers; sixteen RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles in four quad launchers. Research Iowa
HMS Kingfisher was a British Kingfisher Class patrol vessel of 510 tons displacement launched in 1935. She was armed with one four-inch anti-aircraft gun and eight smaller guns plus depth charges. Two Admiralty 3-drum boilers provided a top speed of 20 knots and she carried a complement of 60. Research Kingfisher
The USS Kingfisher is an American Osprey Class mine hunter. The Osprey Class ships are the world's largest glass reinforced plastic (GRP) ships and are the first United States Navy ships designed solely for minehunting. The technique used to locate mines is by high definitionsonar and the mines are neutralised with a remotely controlled underwater vehicle. The platform has been designed with exceptionally low magnetic and acoustic signatures to protect against mine detonations during minehunting operations. The ship has two Isotta Franschini ID 36 SS 8V AM diesel engines which provide 1,600 hp and drive two Voith Schneider cycloidal propellers for increased manoeuvrability. The non magnetic diesel engines are similar to those used in the US Navy's Avenger Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels. The three diesel generators are Isotta Franschini ID 36. The machinery is acoustically isolated and suspended from the main deck in glass reinforced plastic cradles so that when an undersea explosion occurs the isolated machinery remains unaffected. For defence, the ship has two 12.7 mm machine-guns. Research Kingfisher II
HMS Kittiwake was a British Kingfisher Class patrol vessel of 530 tons displacement launched in 1936. She was armed with one four-inch anti-aircraft gun and eight smaller guns plus depth charges. Two Admiralty 3-drum boilers provided a top speed of 20 knots and she carried a complement of 60. Research Kittiwake
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Halcyon
